Soccer in Paraguay: Teenage forward Claudia Martinez ‘ready to make history’
Claudia Martínez, an 18-year-old forward from Paraguay, scored her first goal for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL, becoming the first Paraguayan to do so in the league. Her goal, scored with her left foot after a deflection, sealed a shutout victory over the Kansas City Current. Martínez's transfer to the Spirit marked a historic moment for Paraguayan women's soccer and highlights growing international representation in the NWSL.
- ▪Claudia Martínez became the first Paraguayan player to score a goal in the NWSL.
- ▪She scored her first goal for the Washington Spirit in a 4-0 win against the Kansas City Current.
- ▪Martínez joined the Spirit in January 2026 on a three-year deal after turning 18, with a reported near-million-dollar transfer fee.
- ▪She plays as a forward and is known by the nickname 'Claudinha'.
- ▪The article is part of a monthly series by The Athletic and Yahoo Sports highlighting women’s soccer globally ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Yahoo Sports.