Melissa Andrea Espina Esquivel (born 6 July 1994) is a Chilean football player who plays as a midfielder for Audax Italiano [es].
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Melissa Andrea Espina Esquivel | ||
| Date of birth | 6 July 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Santiago, Chile | ||
| Height | 1.54 m (5 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Audax Italiano | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2020 | Aztecas UDLAP | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007 | Unión San Felipe | ||
| –2010 | Audax Italiano | ||
| 2011–2012 | Colo-Colo | ||
| 2013–2014 | Universidad de Chile | ||
| 2020–2022 | Palestino | ||
| 2023 | Atlético San Luis | ||
| 2024– | Audax Italiano | ||
| International career | |||
| 2009–2010 | Chile U17 | ||
| 2012 | Chile U20 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career edit
Born in Santiago de Chile,[2] Espina began playing football alongside male players.[3]
At club level, she made her debut with Unión San Felipe at the age of thirteen.[4]
Later, she played for Audax Italiano [es],[5] Colo-Colo[6] and Universidad de Chile.[7][8][9]
In 2015, she emigrated to Mexico and spent six years playing at university level for Aztecas UDLAP until 2020.[10][3]
Back in Chile, she joined Palestino [es].[10] In February 2022, she signed her first professional contract with them.[11] In the first half of the same year, she suffered a clavicle fracture, returning to play in the second half.[9]
In 2023, she joined the Mexican club Atlético San Luis, becoming the first Chilean player in the Liga MX Femenil.[9][10] She made his debut on 16 January in the 3–1 win against León[12] and left the club in the second half of the year.[13]
In 2024, she returned to her homeland and rejoined Audax Italiano.[14]
International career edit
In 2009, Espina represented Chile U17 in friendly matches previous to the 2010 South American Championship,[4] but she was crashed by a car while riding a bicycle, suffering a fracture in two lumbar vertebrae and not taking part in the final squad.[9] However, she took part in the FIFA World Cup.[5]
In 2012, she represented the under-20's.[4]
At senior level, she has taken part in training microcycles in 2021.[15][16]
Personal life edit
Espina attended the Universidad de las Américas Puebla and got a degree in business managing. She has worked as a business analyst in a Chilean medical technology company.[9]
References edit
- ^ "Melissa Espina - Mediocampista Ofensivo". 365scores (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ Carrillo, Ruth (18 January 2023). "Refuerzos de lujo" (in Spanish). El Universal. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ a b Cervantes Saucedo, Sergio (5 May 2019). "Melissa Espina: Pausa y genialidad chilena". Poblanerias.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Guerra, Felipe (6 July 2020). "Melissa Espina: La volante de La Roja en el Mundial Sub 17 de 2010". LaRoja.cl (in Spanish). FFCh. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Nóminas de Chile para Copas del Mundo Femeninas Sub-17". Partidos de La Roja (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "Colo Colo es el monarca en el fútbol femenino sub 17". alairelibre.cl (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 9 July 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Golearon Universidad de Chile y Colo Colo". ANFP (in Spanish). 4 May 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Las Chunchitas se impusieron a Audax Italiano en el CDA". SoyAzul (in Spanish). 6 July 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Silva, Felipe (27 January 2023). ""En Chile me tocó vivir lo que es entrenar sin luz; aquí puedo concentrarme en ser futbolista"". AS Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Molina, Geraldine (31 December 2022). "Melissa Espina es la primera chilena en la Liga MX Femenil tras fichar con Atlético de San Luis". Contragolpe (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "Cuatro jugadoras firmaron sus primeros contratos como profesionales en Palestino". alairelibre.cl (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "México: Melissa Espina jugó su primer partido con el Atlético San Luis Femenil". GolMaster (in Spanish). 16 January 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ ""Estoy cansado de tu pinch* acento": ex jugadoras de San Luis revelan violencia que sufrieron". esto.com.mx (in Spanish). 25 August 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Molina, Geraldine (17 January 2024). "Melissa Espina vuelve a Chile y es nuevo refuerzo de Audax Italiano". Contragolpe (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ @palestino (24 May 2020). "¡Felicidades chicas!👏🏼👏🏼" (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2021 – via Instagram.
- ^ Benavides, Camilo (24 May 2021). "La Roja Femenina continúa con las prácticas de cara a Tokio". LaRoja.cl (in Spanish). FFCh. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
External links edit
- Melissa Espina at Soccerway
- Melissa Espina at WorldFootball.net
- Melissa Espina at PlaymakerStats.com
- Melissa Espina at Cutelmex (in Spanish)