Ria Percival


Ria Dawn Percival is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder. She last played for Crystal Palace, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. Born in England, she played for the New Zealand women's national team and represented New Zealand 166 times, more than any other player, male or female. She previously played for FFC Frankfurt and FF USV Jena of the Bundesliga, FC Basel in the Swiss league and West Ham United.

International

Percival represented New Zealand at age group level, appearing at the 2006 Women's U-20 World Cup finals in Russia and again at the 2008 Women's U-20 World Cup in Chile, where she scored both of New Zealand's goals in their 3–2 loss to Nigeria.
Percival made her senior debut in a 0–3 loss to China PR on 14 November 2006, before representing New Zealand at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup finals in China, where they lost to Brazil 0–5, Denmark and China PR.
Percival was also included in the New Zealand squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics, again in China, where they drew with Japan before losing to Norway and the United States.
On 9 March 2011, Percival earned her 50th A-level international cap in a 5–0 loss to Mexico in the play-off for 7th place at the Cyprus Cup.
Percival contested her fifth major tournament when she appeared in all three of New Zealand's matches at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. She appeared in all four of New Zealand's games at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
She again featured in all three of New Zealand's matches at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, taking her to a tally of 9 World Cup matches. She appeared in all three of New Zealand's games at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
In April 2024, Percival announced her retirement from international football.

Career statistics

International goals

Updated 28 June 2020
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
111 April 2007Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae, Papua New Guinea4–08–02007 OFC Women's Championship
213 April 2007Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae, Papua New Guinea3–07–02007 OFC Women's Championship
37 March 2009GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus1–04–22009 Cyprus Women's Cup
41 October 2010North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand6–010–02010 OFC Women's Championship
53 October 2010North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand7–07–02010 OFC Women's Championship
66 October 2010North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand2–08–02010 OFC Women's Championship
78 October 2010North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand3–011–02010 OFC Women's Championship
831 March 2012Toll Stadium, Whangārei, New Zealand6–08–02012 Olympic qualifying
925 October 2014Kalabond Oval, Kokopo, Papua New Guinea16–016–02014 OFC Women's Nations Cup
1029 October 2014Kalabond Oval, Kokopo, Papua New Guinea5–011–02014 OFC Women's Nations Cup
1115 January 2015Spice Hotel, Belek, Turkey1–13–2Friendly
1228 November 2017SCG Stadium, Muang Thong Thani, Thailand3–05–0Friendly
1328 November 2017SCG Stadium, Muang Thong Thani, Thailand5–05–0Friendly
1419 November 2018Stade Numa-Daly Magenta, Nouméa, New Caledonia10–011–02018 OFC Women's Nations Cup
1523 October 2021TD Place Stadium, Ottawa, Canada1–31–5Friendly

Honours

;Individual
In the 2024 New Year Honours, Percival was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to football.