One of Flamengo/Marinha's top players, Ana Carla was born with soccer in her blood. A native of Vitória, Espírito Santo, the girl accompanied her father to weekend pickup games, thus instilling her love for the sport. But anyone who thinks she began her career on the field is mistaken. When she was in sixth grade, Ana was invited to join the school basketball team and began training with the other girls. At a certain point, the Espírito Santo native had to decide whether to pursue a career on the court or try her luck on the field. Then her childhood passion took over, and she chose soccer.

This week's series 'The Road to Flamengo' tells the story of midfielder Ana Carla, one of the standout players on the women's soccer team who, since she was little, has dreamed of shining on the pitch.

Ana Carla de Oliveira Barboza
Modality: Women's Football
Position: Midfielder
Born: 25/06/1994
Place of Birth: Vitória-ES

The beginning
As a child, Ana Carla would go to weekend pickup games with her father, instilling her love for soccer early on. Her favorite pastime was playing ball in the street or on the court with the boys, as it wasn't easy to find girls' soccer schools back then.

One day, the street game ended early, and she decided to go to basketball practice just to observe. Then, the coach called her in for some tryouts and asked her to return the next day. After completing the activities, she excelled and was invited to join the team. The girl then had to put soccer aside for a while to dedicate herself to the court, learning to enjoy the sport as well.

Ana Carla played basketball for six years, joining the Osasco/Bradesco-SP team in 2011. When she turned 18, the time she was about to turn professional, the coach of the São Paulo club, knowing Ana's passion for soccer, told her it was time to decide whether to pursue a career in basketball or soccer. So, she dropped everything and decided to pursue her dream: becoming a soccer player.

Trajectory in women's football
When Ana Carla told her parents she was going to try her luck in soccer, there was some resistance to the change, as the Espírito Santo native already had some basketball experience. At the end of 2011, she returned to Espírito Santo and began training with a local team. Soon, the athlete joined a project in a neighboring neighborhood and began competing in major competitions, such as the State Championship and the Brazilian Futsal Championship. Before moving to the field, she played in several futsal tournaments. While transitioning to the field, she was invited to play for another team in the region and even competed in a Brazilian Cup.

In 2015, after one of the team's training sessions, her friend's cousin contacted a player who played for a team in Rio de Janeiro. Ana Carla was then recommended to try out for Boavista, in Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, which was just starting a women's soccer project. Despite all the efforts to maintain the women's team, the Bacaxá club had to suspend the project due to a lack of sponsors to cover the costs.

At the time, her coach ran a soccer academy in Guadalupe, Rio de Janeiro, and provided the facilities for Ana to continue training until she found a new club to play for. Before joining Mais Querido, the athlete went to São Paulo to compete in a tournament with Matão, São Paulo.

Arrival at Flamengo and main achievements
Still in 2015, after a brief stint in São Paulo, the midfielder returned to Rio de Janeiro, just as Flamengo had partnered with the Navy to form a team. In a friendly match at CEFAN against the red-and-black team, the Espírito Santo native stood out and was immediately invited to join the team. She completed the entire selection process required by the Navy and was finally able to fulfill her dream of wearing the Mantle.

With the Red-Black team, Ana Carla won five State Championships and one Brazilian Championship (2016). The number 6 jersey is one of the few remaining from the team that started the project in 2015, and is a key player within the squad. Today, with more experience and a wealth of soccer experience, Ana aims to continue shining and winning many titles with the Mengão jersey, to one day achieve the long-awaited call-up to the Brazilian women's national team.