Leilanni Nesbeth is a Bermudian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chicago Stars FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Bermuda national team. She played college football for the Florida State Seminoles.
She grew up on St. David's Island in Bermuda.
She left Bermuda at 13 on a cricket scholarship to an England’s school—and balanced cricket, football, academics, and boarding life.
She became the first non-American to be drafted in the first round of the NWSL, picked 10th overall by Chicago in 2024.
Nesbeth won two NCAA titles with Florida State in 2021 and 2023, finishing her college career with 96 apps and 15 goals.
In her debut senior stint for Bermuda in February 2022, she scored a brace on first cap, then followed up with a hat trick in April—totaling 5 goals in just 4 matches.
She earned a sports scholarship to Florida State University, where she played for the Seminoles and studied sports management (M.S.) and general business (minor).
She made Bermuda’s Under-13 boys national cricket team at 12 years old — proving she could compete and excel alongside boys on the international stage.
She started playing football at just 3 years old.
She’s a drummer too. As a child, after only one month of learning, she earned a drum school scholarship in New York.
She enjoys expressing herself through fashion and believes that looking good helps her play well on the field.
She was inspired by football legends Marta and Cristiano Ronaldo while growing up.
She has a puppy.
| Year | Club | AP | GL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2024
-
present
|
Chicago Stars | 26 | 1 |
|
2019
-
2023
|
Florida State Seminoles | 96 | 15 |
|
2017
-
2018
|
Brighton | 1 | 0 |
| International Stats | |||
|
2022
-
present
|
Bermuda | 4 | 5 |
|
2020
-
|
Bermuda U20 | 1 | 0 |
|
2018
-
|
Bermuda U17 | 3 | 1 |
