Leicy María Santos Herrera is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National Women's Soccer League club Washington Spirit and the Colombia national team.
She was the only girl playing football in her small village of San Sebastián, Córdoba.
She grew up playing football on boys’ teams before going to Bogotá to train with Besser Football Club at just 12 years old.
Her family moved with her to Bogota only so that she could follow her dream of being a football player.
They faced poverty, sometimes not being able to afford food or keep warm.
She moved to the United States in 2015 to play at the collegiate level for Iowa Central, winning a national championship in her only year at the school before turning pro.
Her favorite male player has always been Lionel Messi because she grew up watching Argentina with her father.
She admires Aitana Bonmatí a lot for the way she plays and her spirit to always win.
In 2024, she announced her engagement to her partner, Geral Matallana.
For her dream last meal, she would choose coconut rice with Bocachico, a typical fried Colombian fish, and patacones. She describes it as simple but perfect.
She chose jersey number 10 to honor the iconic players who wore it and its significance in Colombian football culture.
Her proudest moments are scoring her first World Cup goal against England in 2023 and winning the championship with Santa Fe in Colombia.
She loves all music but frequently listens to Karol G, whom she considers the queen of Colombian music.
Her favorite drink is coffee, a source of pride in Colombian culture.
She doesn’t have a favorite movie, she prefers to listen to music or study in her free time. The only time she watches TV is to follow football matches.
Her favorite travel destination outside Colombia is Spain, especially Madrid, for its people, food, and weather.
She was the first Colombian woman to be bought by a European team.
With fellow professional footballer Lina Arciniegas, Santos is the co-founder of Cacahuates, a company that creates and distributes nut creams.
In 2021, she joined the Common Goal charity, pledging part of her salary.
She started her own foundation that supports children in education, sports and nutrition.
| Women's Pan American Games | 1× |
| Copa de la Reina | 1× |
| Supercopa Femenina | 1× |
| Trofeo Ramon de Carranza | 1× |
| Year | Club | AP | GL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2024
-
present
|
Washington Spirit | 9 | 2 |
|
2019
-
2024
|
Atletico Madrid | 140 | 22 |
|
2019
-
|
Club Independiente Santa Fe | ||
|
2015
-
|
Iowa Central Tritons | 11 | 7 |
| International Stats | |||
|
2014
-
present
|
Colombia | 51 | 8 |
|
2012
-
|
Colombia U17 | 3 | 0 |
