Claudia Martínez

Forward • Age 18 • #11

Claudia Martínez Ovando is a Paraguayan footballer who plays as a forward. She has represented Paraguay at U17, U20 and senior international level.

Photo: IMAGO | Sports Press Photo

Fun Facts about Claudia

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Before football became her path, Claudia played handball and futsal in Capitán Bado, where handball was more established than the women’s game.

She has two nicknames: ‘Claudinha’ (‘Little Claudia’), given by a Brazilian woman at a border tournament, and ‘La Máquina’ (‘The Machine’), given by Paraguay staff member Noelia Barrios.

Claudia is the fourth of five siblings, and their mother chose a first name beginning with C for every child: Clever, Crelian, Crislain, Claudia and Cleberson.

Her goal celebration often features a raised index finger, but she has never publicly revealed what the gesture means.

Away from training in Washington, she enjoys household chores, drinking tereré (a cold yerba mate drink) and listening to music.

Her family story was brought to a wider audience through the Paraguayan documentary El Renacer Albirrojo ( ‘The Red-and-White Rebirth’), which presents her as a young footballer breaking barriers.

She grew up without football shirts or boots because her family could not afford them; she later treasured a gifted Inter Miami jersey and wore it whenever she could.

She hopes to create a training centre in Paraguay for young players who have nowhere suitable to stay or no proper pitch on which to train.

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Claudia's Team: Washington Spirit