Miraildes Maciel Mota
Encyclopedia
Miraildes Maciel Mota commonly known as Formiga (Portuguese for ant), is a Brazilian footballer
who played midfielder
who last played for FC Gold Pride
of Women's Professional Soccer
and is a member of the Brazil women's national football team
.
as the first overall draft pick, ahead of Kelly Smith
and Marta. She will ply her trade in Santa Clara for the league's inaugural season in 2009
.
Before FC Gold Pride, she had most recently played for Saad
in her homeland of Brazil; her club previous to this was Malmö FF Dam in the Swedish women's first division
which she joined in 2004. She currently plays for the Chicago Red Stars
in Women's Professional Soccer
.
in the 1995
, 1999
, and 2003
World Cups
, and in the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics where Brazil won the silver medal
. She also helped Brazil win the gold medal
at the 2003 Pan American Games
.
Football in Brazil
Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazilian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup tournament a record 5 times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, and is the only team to succeed in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held. It is among the favourites to win...
who played midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who last played for FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area...
of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
and is a member of the Brazil women's national football team
Brazil women's national football team
The Brazil women's national football team represents Brazil in international women's association football. Brazil played their first game on July 22, 1986 against the United States....
.
Career
Formiga was acquired by FC Gold Pride in the 2008 WPS International Draft2008 WPS International Draft
The 2008 WPS International Draft took place on September 24, 2008. It was the first international draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of international players to the American-based teams...
as the first overall draft pick, ahead of Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith
Kelly Jayne Smith, MBE is an English football forward currently playing for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer and is a member of the England women's national football team.-Youth and university:...
and Marta. She will ply her trade in Santa Clara for the league's inaugural season in 2009
2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
The 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season served as the inaugural season for WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States...
.
Before FC Gold Pride, she had most recently played for Saad
Saad Esporte Clube
Saad Esporte Clube, usually known simply as Saad, is a Brazilian men's and women's football team, from São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo state.-History:On April 28, 1961, Saad Esporte Clube was founded by the businessman Felício José Saad...
in her homeland of Brazil; her club previous to this was Malmö FF Dam in the Swedish women's first division
Damallsvenskan
The Damallsvenskan, Swedish for ladies' all-Swedish, is the highest division of women's football in Sweden. It is also referred as to the women's Allsvenskan, this term being used alone to refer to the men's division....
which she joined in 2004. She currently plays for the Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
in Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
.
International
Formiga played for the Brazilian women's national teamBrazil women's national football team
The Brazil women's national football team represents Brazil in international women's association football. Brazil played their first game on July 22, 1986 against the United States....
in the 1995
FIFA Women's World Cup 1995
The FIFA Women's World Cup 1995 was held in Sweden and won by Norway.-Venues:-Teams:As in the previous edition of the FIFA Women's World cup, held in 1991, 12 teams participated in the final tournament...
, 1999
FIFA Women's World Cup 1999
-Teams:16 teams participated in the final tournament. The teams were:-Squads:For a list of all squads that played in the final tournament, see 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup squads.-Match officials:...
, and 2003
FIFA Women's World Cup 2003
The FIFA Women's World Cup 2003 was held in the United States and won by Germany. The tournament was originally scheduled for China. On May 3, 2003 the tournament was abruptly moved to the United States, as a result of the 2003 SARS outbreak in China...
World Cups
FIFA Women's World Cup
The FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the...
, and in the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics where Brazil won the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
. She also helped Brazil win the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the 2003 Pan American Games
2003 Pan American Games
The 14th Pan American Games were held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 1 to 17 August 2003. The successful bid for the games was made in the mid-1990s, when this country had one of the highest growth rates in Latin America....
.