Mercedes Diz

As a little girl, Mercedes was sometimes stopped from playing football with the boys during kindergarten recess because teachers considered it a boys’ sport — so she complained to her mum, who went to the school to defend her right to play.

Mercedes’ first River trial was meant only for boys, but she and her sister were eventually allowed to join — and Mercedes promptly scored a free kick that caught the club’s attention.

As a child, Mercedes chose football-themed birthday parties instead of princesses, with some celebrations inspired by the clubs her professional-footballer father had played for.

When River first wanted Mercedes at just ten years old, her parents said no because her father had left home for football at 14 and felt he had lost part of his own childhood — he wanted Mercedes to have more time simply to be a kid.

Mercedes even has a hamburger named after her in Navarro: the “Meme Diz” burger was originally created for International Women’s Day and proved popular enough to stay on the menu.

Mercedes calls her family “the best thing I have” and has admitted that seeing them in the stands can make her cry because she knows how much they sacrifice to support her.