News
VIE 19.01.2018
Goals are worth their weight in gold on a football pitch, delivering points and victories that translate into success and trophies. Scoring them is easier said than done, but there is a cohort of players in the Spanish women's top flight who are undisputed experts at putting the ball in the net. We are talking about the 13 stars who have accrued 100 or more goals for a single Liga Iberdrola club.
Mari Paz Vilas is the latest player to have entered this particular pantheon, having bagged her 100th goal for Valencia CF against Real Sociedad earlier this month. "I'm over the moon. Football, the Spanish national team and Valencia CF are my life," the Galician striker gushed after making history for Las Che.
Two clubs have witnessed more such centuries than the rest: Athletic Club and Fundacion Albacete, both of whom have seen three of their players chalk up 100 goals wearing their respective colours. For the Basques, Eli Ibarra hit three figures before hanging up her boots, while Erika Vazquez and Nekane Diez – who are still going strong – have also notched more than 100 career goals with Las Leonas. Albacete's trio of centurions consists of Matilde Martinez (better known as Mati), Alba Redondo and Maria Arranz. "I feel a sense of pride and joy, and it gives me extra motivation because I'm gunning for 200," Redondo told LaLiga. Mati echoed that sentiment: "I'm raring to keep chipping in with many more goals to make this club great." Arranz, for her part, noted that: "Reaching that milestone made all my hard work and effort over the years worth it."
Naturally, Santa Teresa CD captain and talisman Estefania Lima also features on this list, as does Madrid CFF icon Alba Mellado, who is the only player ever to surpass 100 goals for the club. Priscila Borja and Sonia Bermudez, for their part, have both moved on from the places where they achieved the landmark: current Real Betis forward Borja brought up her ton at Atletico Madrid, while Soni – who is now with Las Rojiblancas – racked up three figures during her time with FC Barcelona.
Arguably the most surprising name on the roll call is Betis starlet Paula Moreno, given that she is still just 21 and joined this select club at the tender age of 19. "It's hugely gratifying to have surpassed that tally for the club that I love, and above all to have been able to do my bit for the team with my goals. I've also got to say that without the help of my teammates and family, and the faith of the coaching staff, it wouldn't have been possible," said the prodigious attacker, her modesty doing her credit.
Last but by no means least comes Natalia Pablos, who stands in a league of her own. The 100-goal mark is a speck in the distance for the Rayo Vallecano veteran, who has scored more than 300 times for the Madrilenian outfit. "It makes me proud, not just because of the figure per se, but because of what those goals have meant for the team, since they've contributed to our success over all these years."
© LALIGA - 2018