Lauren Leal: Brazil And Atletico Madrid’s Rock At The Back On Her Journey From Votorantim To The World Stage | OneFootball

By Louis Smith.

Lauren Eduarda Leal Costa, better known simply as Lauren, is a highly talented Brazilian international footballer. Despite being only 22 years old, her career has already taken her to different parts of the world.

Lauren was born in Votorantim, São Paulo, a municipality located 62 miles away from the city centre and a place known for having a rich industrial history, but for the Brazilian, it was football that was her main passion which shaped her life from an early age.

“I remember very well playing in the street with the boys. I grew up on a dead-end street that had many children, and we played everything, and one of those games was football,” Lauren tells WFi of her earliest footballing memories.

“Becoming a footballer happened very naturally in my life. I moved up through the categories in the youth academy until I reached the professional level.”

Lauren joined up with Centro Olímpico at a young age, a club that partnered with the São Paulo youth teams and eventually became São Paulo in 2019.

🔗 Instagram

🔗 Instagram

During her time with Centro Olímpico and São Paulo, Lauren showcased her leadership abilities, frequently captaining her teams to success. Her guidance on the field contributed to winning multiple trophies at both youth and professional levels.

Her standout performances didn’t go unnoticed, as her skill and maturity drew the attention of Brazil’s national team selectors.

Her impressive performances throughout 2021 culminated in her being named the Best Defender in the Paulista State Championship, one of the most prestigious regional tournaments in Brazil.

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At the end of 2021, after spending her whole life playing football in Brazil where she had developed her craft and became a leader, she set her sights on a new challenge and country by moving to Spain as she joined Madrid CFF.

Lauren’s time with São Paulo was particularly impactful. She expressed gratitude for the support from both the club and its fans, emphasizing how much she grew as a player during that period.

The experiences she gained from the youth academy to the professional level, were critical in shaping her career and development as a leader on and off the pitch.

“The transition to São Paulo was smooth because the entire team from Centro Olímpico became São Paulo,” said Lauren.

“Making my debut was very special. It was the realization of a dream. At that moment, I was able to become a professional.

“It was a very important and special time in my life, both in the youth academy and the senior team.

“I am very grateful to the club and the fans for all the affection shown to me and my family. I learned a lot and evolved a lot during that period, which was essential in my career.”

Not only did Lauren’s performances give her the pathway to European football and a new challenge, but it saw her called up to the Senior Brazilian national team in 2021, where she made her debut in a 4-1 battering of Argentina which was understandably a huge moment in her life.

“It means a lot. It’s every athlete’s dream to represent their country. It’s a pride and an honour to wear the national team jersey,” Lauren said on making her debut.

Since her debut, Lauren has gone on to play 26 times for her country at senior level, which included two matches at the 2023 World Cup in Australia.

More recently, she achieved another dream by not only becoming an Olympian but bringing home a silver medal for Brazil at the recent Paris Olympics as they put in an excellent showing only being pipped to the gold medal by the USA in the final.

“It’s a unique experience. Winning an Olympic medal representing your country is incredible. Having my family with me at that moment made it even more special.”

The aforementioned move to Madrid CFF saw her take herself out of her comfort zone not just on the football field, but in day-to-day life, having to learn a new language as well as adapting to being several miles away from family members in her first true experience of being outside of Brazil.

Lauren spent two seasons with Madrid CFF, playing 43 times and her first full season with the club was mightily impressive as they finished in fifth place, putting in a solid effort and improving on finishing 13th during the 2021/2022 campaign.

“It was a big change in my personal and professional life,” she said.

“Living, working, and playing in a different country is a big challenge. The adaptation came over time with the help of some people.

“I noticed there’s a variance in playing style and intensity. I really felt the difference when I arrived.”

After a spell in America with Kansas City Current, where Lauren learned new challenges in her career, she moved back to the city of Madrid in 2024, joining giants Atletico de Madrid.

The feel-good factor from the Olympic games has given her a boost going into the early stages of her Atleti career and to her surprise she has found herself on the scoresheet three times in just seven games, not what you would usually expect from a centre-back.

“My time in the US was a period of much personal and professional learning. I encountered situations I had never experienced before, which made me learn a lot,” Lauren said.

“The first few months [with Atletico Madrid] have been good. We’ve been getting good results. I’m happy to represent such a big club.

When asked about her goalscoring form she said, “Honestly, it’s surprised me too! But I’m happy to be playing and helping my team. I’m happy at Atlético and want to have a great season here, achieving our goals.”

Lauren’s resilience, adaptability, and humility in navigating different football cultures, challenges, and victories set an excellent example for those looking up to her.

She remains focused on continuous improvement and is a shining beacon of how to handle both challenges and achievements with grace.