Maribel Domínguez

Maribel was pure nerves. She had a winning mentality and strong character despite being just 1.64 metres tall and weighing 50 kg. As a child she had played with a Mexican boys team, masquerading by the name of the name Mario.

Before coming to Barça she was toying with the idea of playing for Celaya in Mexico's men's league, her only option if she wanted to play football professionally. Obviously, common sense told her that would not be a great idea because of her physical limitations, and in any case, FIFA expressly prohibited her from playing with men. FC Barcelona pounced on the opportunity.

Maribel joined in January 2005 as a major boost for a Barça team that until then had a disastrous record in the league of just one win, four draws and eleven defeats. With the Mexican forward, the team coached by Natalia Astrain went on a streak of seven wins in ten games and ended the season comfortably in mid-table.

Marigol was also a media phenomenon who earned unprecedented exposure for the women's game, and Barça Women started playing in the Miniestadi for the first time so the games could be shown on TV. There was even press coverage of training sessions as well as before, during and after matches, with a particularly following by Mexican journalists who wanted to know every detail about Maribel and FC Barcelona.

But Maribel Dominguez's career in Barcelona was brief. In the summer of 2006 she left the club and in January 2007 signed for l'Estartit, a team in the women's second division, who she helped to win promotion to the Super League.

Career

• Seasons at club: 2004-06
• Appearances: 31
• Goals: 15