Érika Cristiano

Defender • Age 38 • #99

Érika Cristiano dos Santos is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a defender. She has represented Brazil at youth level and senior level.

Photo: Instagram | erikotinhac

Fun Facts about Érika

Discover more than stats. Get more of who she is.

Érika started playing football at age seven at the school of Corinthians idol Marcelinho Carioca. Her family could not afford the fees, but she earned a scholarship and became the school’s first girl.

She grew up as a Corinthians fan.

Her father worked as a bus driver, and during her youth-football years she sometimes used that bus-driver community to get to training when money was tight.

As a teenager, she also did modeling before choosing football boots over runways and high heels.

Her matchday ritual includes prayer, music, and thinking about her two nephews; she also keeps a shin guard with their photo.

She sees encouraging girls as part of her responsibility because she remembers being a young player who did not always receive that kind of attention.