Kika Nazareth


Francisca Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa, commonly known as Kika or Kika Nazareth, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward or an attacking midfielder for Liga F club Barcelona and the Portugal national team.

Club career

Benfica

Nazareth made her senior debut for Benfica at the age of 16 and signed her first professional contract with the club on 7 October 2020, at the age of 17.
On the 2023–24 season, Nazareth was part of the historical Benfica team that won all four domestic competitions: the Supertaça de Portugal, the Taça da Liga, the Campeonato Nacional, and the Taça de Portugal. This was the first time a women's team in Portugal managed this feat, and it is yet to be replicated.
Nazareth was forced to miss two months of play after sustaining an injury against Valadares Gaia in early January 2024. She returned in March and quickly took back her spot in the starting lineup. Across all competitions, Nazareth played 37 matches, scoring 25 goals and assisting 8.

Barcelona

On 4 July 2024, Nazareth completed a move to Spanish giants FC Barcelona for €500,000, a record fee for the women's football scene in Portugal. She made her official debut in a 3–0 win against Deportivo de La Coruña in early September, and scored her first official goal in a 4–1 win over Levante in late October.
Nazareth secured her first piece of silverware with Barcelona on 26 January 2025, when the culers defeated their eternal rivals Real Madrid to claim their 5th Spanish Supercup.
On the second leg of the Copa de la Reina semi-final against Real Madrid, Nazareth suffered a serious ankle injury, forcing her to be subbed off at half-time. This injury would mark the end of her club football season, and brought her participation in the European Championship into question. From the sidelines, however, Nazareth saw Barcelona win a record sixth consecutive Liga F and second consecutive Copa de la Reina, adding two more medals to her personal cabinet. Barcelona could not secure a Champions League victory, losing 1-0 against Arsenal FC in the final, held in her hometown of Lisbon. Still, Nazareth was able to help Barcelona win the 2024-25's Copa Catalunya Femenina, given the large interval between the semi-finals and final.

International career

Nazareth made her debut for the Portugal national team on 4 March 2020, coming on as a substitute for Carolina Mendes against Italy in the 2020 Algarve Cup. She scored her first goals for the Portugal national team on 22 June 2022 in a friendly match against Greece, scoring two goals in the first half in a 4-0 win for Portugal. On 30 May 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.
On 24 June 2025, Nazareth was called up to the Portugal squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025. This was somewhat surprising, given the long-term injury she had sustained during the 2024-2025 season. At the tournament, Nazareth played two group-stage matches, but did not manage to contribute with any goals or assists. The Portuguese team had a swift tournament exit, after collecting only one point in three matches, suffering losses to both Spain and Belgium, and drawing against Italy.

Career statistics

Club

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
123 June 2022Estadio do Restelo, Lisbon, Portugal2–04–0Friendly
223 June 2022Estadio do Restelo, Lisbon, Portugal4–04–0Friendly
32 September 2022Serbian FA Sports Center, Stara Pazova, Serbia2–12–12023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
46 September 2022Estádio do FC Vizela, Vizela, Portugal2–04–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
511 October 2022Estádio da Mata Real, Paços de Ferreira, Portugal4–14–1 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA play-offs
611 November 2022Estádio Municipal José Martins Vieira, Almada, Portugal5–05–0Friendly
727 July 2023Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand2–02–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup
84 June 2024Mourneview Park, Lurgan, Northern Ireland1–12–1UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying
929 November 2024Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal1–11–1UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs
1021 February 2025Estádio Municipal de Portimão, Portimão, Portugal1–11–12025 UEFA Women's Nations League

Honours

Benfica
  • Campeonato Nacional Feminino: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
  • Campeonato Nacional II Divisão Feminino: 2018–19
  • Taça de Portugal: 2023–24
  • Taça da Liga: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
  • Supertaça de Portugal: 2022, 2023
Barcelona
  • Primera División: 2024–25
  • Copa de la Reina: 2024–25
  • Supercopa de España Femenina: 2025, 2026
  • Copa Catalunya Femenina: 2024-25
Individual
  • Cosme Damião Awards – Women's Revelation of the Year: 2022
  • Cosme Damião Awards – Women's Footballer of the Year: 2023, 2024
  • Campeonato Nacional Feminino Player of the Year: 2023–24
  • Campeonato Nacional Feminino Player of the Month: September/October 2023
  • Campeonato Nacional Feminino Golden Boot: 2023–24
  • Mundo Deportivo Revelation Player award: 2024