Karen Irasema Luna De Los Santos (born 12 February 1998), known as Karen Luna, is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a defender for Liga MX Femenil side Club América,[1] and the Mexico women's national football team.

Karen Luna
Personal information
Full name Karen Irasema Luna De Los Santos
Date of birth (1998-02-12) 12 February 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
América
Number 26
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 UANL 104 (2)
2021– América 117 (8)
International career
2024– Mexico 10 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 July 2024

Club career

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Previous to her professional career, Luna was part of the women's football team of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León.[2]

Tigres UANL (2017–2021)

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Luna signed her first professional contract with Tigres UANL in 2017, ahead of the first Liga MX Femenil tournament in history.[3] Prior to joining Tigres, Luna declined an offer to join their city rivals, C.F. Monterrey.[2]

During her time at Tigres, Luna made more than 100 appearances over a period of four years and played an important role in the club's success, contributing to four league championships.[4] Luna decided to part ways with Tigres at the conclusion of the Guard1anes 2021 tournament due to the limited playing time she was receiving in the last few tournaments.[5]

Club América (2021–present)

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Luna joined Club América on 21 June 2021.[6] At América, Luna quickly adjusted and became an important part of the team within her first season under then-manager Craig Harrington.[4] Luna was a key player for América to obtain its second league title in history during the Clausura 2023 tournament by starting all the liguilla games including the final.[7][8]

International career

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Luna was called to the Mexico women's national football team by manager Pedro López for the first time on 24 January 2024 for a training camp ahead of the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup.[9] She was officially included in Mexico's squad for the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup on 10 February 2024.[10]

Luna made her debut with Mexico on 21 February 2024, during the inaugural match of the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup against Argentina.[11] She scored her first goal with Mexico on 26 February 2024, in a 0–8 victory against Dominican Republic for the second match of the group stage of the tournament.[12]

Career statistics

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International goals

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No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 23 February 2024 Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, United States   Dominican Republic 3–0 8–0 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup

Honours

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Tigres UANL

Club América

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Plantel del Club América Femenil". Liga MX Femenil. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Giraudi, Matías. "De piel felina". www.oncediario.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  3. ^ cg.cruz (27 July 2017). "Conoce todos los planteles de la Liga MX Femenil". Record.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Karen Luna: De la banca de Tigres a estrella del América en 6 meses". www.sopitas.com. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  5. ^ Almaraz, Ivonne (3 May 2022). "Karen Luna renació en el América: "cuando llegué aquí me salieron alas"". ESTO (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  6. ^ "América femenil da la bienvenida a Karen Luna". Diario AS (in Mexican Spanish). 16 June 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  7. ^ Kriger, Rachael (7 June 2023). "Liga MX Femenil, Clausura 2023: Club América dominates Pachuca for second title – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Karen Irasema Luna De Los Santos". Liga MX Femenil. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Convocatoria Selección Mexicana Femenil rumbo a Copa Oro W 2024; regresa Pamela Tajonar y debuta Karen Luna". Marca México (in Mexican Spanish). 25 January 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Selección Mexicana da su convocatoria para Copa Oro W con notables ausencias | TUDN Selección MX | TUDN". www.tudn.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Argentina y México no se sacaron diferencias en la Copa Oro Femenina". DirecTV Sports. 21 February 2024.
  12. ^ "México se luce con tremenda goleada ante República Dominicana". ESPNdeportes.com (in Spanish). 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Shaw, Leon, Ovalle head up W Gold Cup Best XI". CONCACAF. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
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