The narrative of women in sports often finds itself relegated to the sidelines. It is our mission to change that, to amplify their accomplishments and to weave a tapestry of stories that inspire and empower. Our weekly column Latin Women in Sports seeks to applaud their accomplishments, break down barriers, and champion the idea that in sports, as in life, every voice deserves to be heard.
ALABAMA - There's something Charlyn Corral knows how to do pretty much better than anyone else: score goals. The Mexican striker made history last year by finishing 2023 with the most league goals scored for a woman, finding the back of the net 34 times with Pachuca. For context, only Harry Kane (38) scored more league goals in the world during 2023 (men and women's soccer).
The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) recognized Corral as the best league scorer in the women's side, netting the same amount of goals as some of the biggest stars in the men's game such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé. In terms of total goals, Corral ranked in 2nd place among women (39 goals in 2023), only surpassed by Malawi's Temwa Chawinga. The Asian striker scored 63 goals last year.
In the end-of-year list revealed by IFFHS, Mexico's Liga MX Femenil accounted for six of the players with the most league goals scored in 2023. This speaks volumes to the offensive quality in the Mexican league, where Charlyn Corral rules supreme. Chivas' Alicia Cervantes finished the year with 31 goals and has featured in the top four in three of the last four years.
She had a successful career in Spain before returning to Mexico, being named the 2017-18 Liga Iberdrola 'Pichichi' thanks to her 24 goals for Levante that season. But Corral has been on a tear ever since arriving to Pachuca.
In less than three years and a little over 100 games, Corral has surpassed the 70-goal mark in Liga MX Femenil. She is scoring at a faster rate than anyone else since returning to Mexico, averaging a goal every 117 minutes (min. 3,000 minutes played since 2021).
Her 20 goals scored during the Clausura 2023 regular season set a record in Liga MX Femenil for the most goals ever scored in a single tournament in the league's seven-year history.
Since her arrival, Pachuca has been one of the most consistent teams in Liga MX Femenil, reaching the playoffs in each of the last four tournaments. The 'Tuzas' also reached the final a couple of times (Clausura 2022, Clausura 2023), with Corral being the leading scorer in the 'Liguilla' both times.
A vocal leader on and off the pitch, Corral has been an example for many young players and women that are pushing for a career in soccer. In an interview for ESPN's studio show "Fútbol Picante," Corral urged young players to not settle in Mexico and look for more opportunities elsewhere.
"Back in the day, we used to live in a world of uncertainty, there weren't any professional leagues really, everything was harder" she said. "My experiences outside of Mexico not only made me a better player, but it allowed me to change my mentality and see the world in a different way."
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