Cristiane Rozeira


Cristiane Rozeira de Souza Silva, known as Cristiane, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for São Paulo FC and the Brazilian women's national team. A prolific forward, she was part of Brazil's silver medal-winning teams at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic football tournaments. In total she has participated in five FIFA Women's World Cups and four Olympics.
At club level, Cristiane has played professionally in France, Germany, Sweden, the United States, Russia and South Korea, as well as in her native Brazil.

Career

Early beginnings

Cristiane started her career at the local football clubs São Bernardo and Clube Atlético Juventus. At the age of 15, she debuted for the Brazil Under-19 team and took part in both the 2002 U-19 Women's World Championship in Canada and the 2004 U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand; Brazil finished fourth in both tournaments. In 2003, Cristiane scored one goal during one appearance as a substitute, when Brazil successfully defended their title at the Sudamericano Femenino. She was also part of the squad for the 2003 Women's World Cup, appearing as a substitute in all four of Brazil's matches.

Breakthrough

Cristiane had her international breakthrough at the Olympic football tournament in Athens 2004. Brazil reached the final, which they lost to the United States, but still achieved their biggest international success until then, by winning the Olympic silver medal. With five goals, Cristiane was honored as the tournament's top scorer along with Germany's Birgit Prinz.
In February 2005, Cristiane transferred from Atlético Juventus to the German women's Bundesliga club 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam. During the 2005–06 season she won the Bundesliga title and the German cup competition with Potsdam, although she was often used as a substitute and had difficulties to adjust to the physical play in Germany. In the following season she was transferred to the league rival VfL Wolfsburg, where she scored seven goals during the 2006–07 season, but her problems to adapt to the style of play in Germany continued. In August 2007, Cristiane did not renew her contract in Wolfsburg and returned to Brazil to support the newly created Brazilian cup competition, the Copa do Brasil de Futebol Feminino.
Cristiane was the top scorer at the 2006 Sudamericano Femenino with 12 goals, even though Brazil competed with a weakened team and only finished second behind Argentina for the first time after four consecutive title defenses. In 2007, she scored eight goals at the Pan American Games, hosted by Brazil. In the final, the Brazilian national team defeated the United States Under-20 squad before a crowd of 68,000 at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
At the 2007 Women's World Cup Cristiane was voted the third-best player of the tournament. She scored five goals and she was the second best scorer of her team next to her strike partner, Marta. She was involved in a collision that resulted in a controversial red card for Shannon Boxx of the United States in the semifinal. Brazil reached the Women's World Cup final for the first time which they lost to defending champions Germany. Cristiane came in third for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year award.
In February 2008, she signed a five-month contract until the Summer Olympics with the Swedish Damallsvenskan club Linköpings FC.
On 21 August 2008 in the Beijing Olympics, Cristiane was substituted in what looked like a repeat of the 2004 Olympics Women's Football final in that Brazil once again lost to the USA team in the final to end up with the silver. The match ended 1–0 after extra time. For the second straight Olympics, she scored 5 goals and was the tournament's leading scorer; unlike the 2004 tournament, Cristiane was the outright leading scorer.
On 28 August 2008, Cristiane joined Corinthians to play in Campeonato Paulista. On 30 August 2008, during her debut as a Corinthians player, she scored her first goal for the club, helping her team beat São José 3–1 in the Campeonato Paulista.

To the United States

On 24 September 2008, the Women's Professional Soccer rights to Cristiane were acquired by the Chicago Red Stars at the inaugural International Draft. Cristiane completed her move to the Red Stars on 27 February 2009. On 12 July 2009, Cristiane scored the first hat-trick in WPS history, leading the Chicago Red Stars to a 3–1 victory against FC Gold Pride. She finished as the team top scorer with seven goals and was named to the league All-Star team.
She returned to Chicago for the 2010 season, but showed less impressive form and was made a free agent after only scoring three goals in 24 appearances. Chicago Red Stars suspended operations shortly afterwards and Cristiane decided to play the 2011 season in Brazil.

2009–present

Cristiane signed a three-month loan contract with Santos on 14 August 2009 to play in the Copa Libertadores. She helped her club win both competitions, and scored a goal in the Copa do Brasil final.
In September 2011 she joined Russian Champions League contestant WFC Rossiyanka. A year later she moved to São José Esporte Clube of São José dos Campos, Brazil. Early in 2013 it was announced that Cristiane would join the Icheon Daekyo WFC in South Korea´s WK-League. She quit South Korea shortly afterwards, in order to join Centro Olímpico in Brazil.
In August 2015 Cristiane and compatriot Érika made a double transfer to French UEFA Women's Champions League contenders Paris Saint-Germain Féminines. Paris coach Farid Benstiti already knew Cristiane, having been her boss at Rossiyanka.
In July 2017, Cristiane joined Changchun Zhuoyue on a transfer from Paris Saint-Germain Féminines.
In October 2017 Cristiane was one of five Brazil players to quit international football, disgruntled at pay and conditions, and the Brazilian Football Confederation's sacking of head coach Emily Lima. She soon relented and indicated a willingness to return to the national team in February 2018, ahead of the 2018 Copa América Femenina.

International goals


Goal
DateLocationOpponentScoreResultCompetition
127 April 2003 Lima, PeruCopa America 2003
220 July 2003 Ottawa, CanadaFriendly match
38 August 2003 San Cristóbal, Dominican Rep.2003 Pan American Games
417 August 2004 Patras, GreeceOlympics 2004
517 August 2004 Patras, GreeceOlympics 2004
617 August 2004 Patras, GreeceOlympics 2004
720 August 2004 Heraklio, GreeceOlympics 2004
820 August 2004 Heraklio, GreeceOlympics 2004
911 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 2006
1011 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 2006
1113 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 2006
1217 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 203
1317 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 203
1417 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 203
1519 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 2006
1622 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 2006
1724 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 203
1824 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 203
1924 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 203
2024 November 2006 Mar del Plata, ArgentinaCopa America 203
2112 July 2007 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil2007 Pan American Games
2214 July 2007 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil2007 Pan American Games
2318 July 2007 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCopa America 203
2418 July 2007 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCopa America 203
2518 July 2007 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCopa America 203
2618 July 2007 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCopa America 203
2726 July 2007 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil2007 Pan American Games
2826 July 2007 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil2007 Pan American Games
292 September 2007 Chiba, JapanFriendly match
3012 September 2007 Wuhan, China2007 FIFA Women's World Cup
3115 September 2007 Wuhan, China2007 FIFA Women's World Cup
3215 September 2007 Wuhan, China2007 FIFA Women's World Cup
3323 September 2007 Tianjin, China2007 FIFA Women's World Cup
3427 September 2007 Hangzhou, China2007 FIFA Women's World Cup
3519 April 2008 Beijing, ChinaInter-continental play-off
3619 April 2008 Beijing, ChinaInter-continental play-off
3712 August 2008 Beijing, ChinaOlympics 2008
3812 August 2008 Beijing, ChinaOlympics 2008
3912 August 2008 Beijing, ChinaOlympics 2008
4018 September 2008 Shanghai, China2008 Olympics
4118 September 2008 Shanghai, China2008 Olympics
4225 April 2009 Gothenburg, SwedenFriendly match
439 December 2009 São Paulo, BrazilTorneio Internacional 2009
449 December 2009 São Paulo, BrazilTorneio Internacional 2009
4513 December 2009 São Paulo, BrazilTorneio Internacional 2009
4624 October 2010 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilFriendly match
4724 October 2010 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilFriendly match
4824 October 2010 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilFriendly match
495 November 2010 Loja, EcuadorCopa America 2010
507 November 2010 Loja, EcuadorCopa America 2010
517 November 2010 Loja, EcuadorCopa America 2010
5211 November 2010 Cuenca, EcuadorCopa America 2010
5313 November 2010 Cuenca, EcuadorCopa America 2010
5413 November 2010 Cuenca, EcuadorCopa America 2010
5517 November 2010 Latacunga, EcuadorCopa America 2010
5619 November 2010 Latacunga, EcuadorCopa America 2010
579 December 2010 São Paulo, BrazilTorneio Internacional 2010
586 July 2011 Frankfurt, Germany2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
596 July 2011 Frankfurt, Germany2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
608 December 2011 São Paulo, BrazilTorneio Internacional 2011
6125 July 2012 Cardiff, WalesOlympics 2012
6228 July 2012 Cardiff, WalesOlympics 2012
639 December 2012 São Paulo, BrazilTorneio Internacional 2012
6422 December 2013 Brasilia, BrazilTorneio Internacional 2013
6510 March 2014 Santiago, ChileFootball at the 2014 South American Games
6610 March 2014 Santiago, ChileFootball at the 2014 South American Games
6716 June 2014 Auckland, New ZealandFriendly match
6814 September 2014 Loja, Ecuador2014 Copa América Femenina
6914 September 2014 Loja, Ecuador2014 Copa América Femenina
7018 September 2014 Loja, Ecuador2014 Copa América Femenina
7124 September 2014 Quito, Ecuador2014 Copa América Femenina
7224 September 2014 Quito, Ecuador2014 Copa América Femenina
7326 September 2014 Quito, Ecuador2014 Copa América Femenina
7415 July 2015 Toronto, Canada2015 Pan American Games
7515 July 2015 Toronto, Canada2015 Pan American Games
7615 July 2015 Toronto, Canada2015 Pan American Games
7715 July 2015 Toronto, Canada2015 Pan American Games
7815 July 2015 Toronto, Canada2015 Pan American Games
7919 July 2015 Toronto, Canada2015 Pan American Games
8022 July 2015 Toronto, Canada2015 Pan American Games
8125 October 2015 Orlando, United StatesFriendly game
824 March 2016 Santo António, PortugalAlgarve Cup 2016
839 March 2016 Parchal, PortugalAlgarve Cup 2016
844 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilOlympics 2016
856 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilOlympics 2016
869 April 2017 Manaus, BrazilFriendly match
875 April 2018 Coquimbo, Chile2018 Copa América Femenina
887 April 2018 Coquimbo, Chile2018 Copa América Femenina
897 April 2018 Coquimbo, Chile2018 Copa América Femenina
9019 April 2018 La Serena, Chile2018 Copa América Femenina
919 June 2019 Grenoble, France2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
929 June 2019 Grenoble, France2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
939 June 2019 Grenoble, France2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
9413 June 2019 Montpellier, France2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
9515 December 2019 Araraquara, BrazilFriendly match
9615 December 2019 Araraquara, BrazilFriendly match

Honours

Club football

;Santos
;1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
Cristiane is openly lesbian, having a relationship with Ana, a lawyer, since February 2019.