Vicky Lopez, born in 2006 in Vallecas, Madrid, developed her football skills playing street games with her brother. She later joined local teams where she often played in defence, and her talent attracted Alba Mellado, a youth coach at Madrid CFF. Mellado was expanding the club’s junior ranks and approached Lopez’s family after identifying her as a standout. Lopez chose to remain with her local friends initially, but her path continued to open through further opportunities. She became an attacking midfielder who earned regular starts for Barcelona and Spain despite competing for minutes with top global players. She is expected to gain wider recognition at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and is set to play her first Women’s Champions League final with Barcelona against Lyon in Oslo.
"Lopez, 19, is undoubtedly the next global star of the women's game. Over the past year, the attacking midfielder has established herself as a regular starter for the biggest powers in club and international football, Barcelona and Spain. She has done so despite having to contend for minutes with Ballon d'Or winners and global superstars, and now looks set for global recognition at the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil."
"The daughter of a Spanish father and a Nigerian mother, Lopez was born in 2006 in the tight-knit working class Madrid neighbourhood of Vallecas. At four years old she was playing football in the street with her older brother Jesus, an early education in the game that partly explains the flair, agility and speed she would become known for."
""Vicky learned her craft on the streets of Vallecas, her style is very street-influenced," Spanish football journalist Irati Vidal told BBC Sport. "She used to play for fun while admiring and trying to copy Neymar's dribbles." Lopez soon joined local girls and boys teams where she often played in defence, and her innate talent caught the attention of Alba Mellado."
"Mellado - a professional footballer and youth coach at Madrid CFF - a women-only club in the Spanish capital - was working on expanding the club's junior ranks. After telling club president Alfredo Ulloa about the gem she had discovered, Mellado approached Lopez's family. The young girl decided she wanted to stick with her friends on the local team, but fate would soon give Mellado another opportunity."
Read at www.bbc.com
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