Former Cumberland H.S. All-State striker named to Portugal’s women’s national soccer team
CUMBERLAND - Pawtucket native Stephanie Ribeiro has been called in to Portugal’s Women’s National Soccer Team ahead of two qualifying games against Northern Ireland for UEFA’s Women’s Euro 2025.
This marks her first call-up to the Portuguese national team.
“Stephanie is a player who plays in the Mexican league, with great dimension and professionalism,” said Portugal’s manager Francisco Neto, when announcing Ribeiro’s addition to the 25-member roster.
Ribeiro, 29, currently plays as a forward for Club Universidad Nacional (commonly known as UNAM-PUMAS) in Liga MX Femenil (Mexico’s professional women’s soccer league).
She has also played professionally in Iceland, Denmark, and Norway.
Her mother was born in Chaves, mainland Portugal, which granted her access to Portuguese citizenship and the opportunity to join the Portuguese National Team. Her dad was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“She is very honored to represent Portugal,” her mom Nela Ribeiro told O Jornal. “She is very excited.”
She said Stephanie has been doing very well with the Mexican league and that’s probably why she got the call to represent Portugal.
“She had a very good year; she is a top goal scorer at PUMAS,” her mom said. “She’s been there for two years. This year, she scored 14 goals.”
Stephanie will be traveling to Portugal on Saturday, May 25 to join the national squad. Meanwhile, she is trying to lay low and stay focused, according to her mom.
“She doesn’t want any distractions,” her mom said. “She just wants to have her head in the right place.”
Ribeiro’s passion for soccer started at a very young age
Stephanie’s passion for soccer began at a very early age as she started playing it at age 4.
“She has played soccer all of her life; that’s all she knows,” her mom said. “She has always done well.”
She was a three-time first-team All-Stater at Cumberland High School, scoring more than 100 goals from 2009 to 2011. She was also named All-New England three times.
In college, she played with the UConn Huskies women's soccer team, making 85 appearances and scoring 38 goals.
Two other players who were called up play in the U.S.
Ribeiro will join two other players on the Portuguese national team who currently play in the United States: University of Arkansas goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde and Portland Thorns forward Ana Dias.
Born in Aveiro, Dias came to the Portland Thorns in March 2024 by way of St. Petersburg, Russia, where she played three seasons with ZFK Zenit. Prior to that, she played for GDC A-dos-Francos and UR Cadima in Portugal.
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Cota-Yarde is the daughter of an Azorean immigrant. Her mother was born in Terceira, which like Ribeiro granted her access to Portuguese citizenship and the opportunity to join the Portuguese National Team.
Portugal's coach: 'We have to take it game by game’
Portugal will face Northern Ireland on Friday, May 31 in Leiria, Portugal, and again in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, on June 4.
The goal is to consolidate Portugal’s position at the top of Group 3 of the 2025 UEFA European Championship qualifying group. So far, Portugal has two wins from two matches, and suffered no goals.
“We have to take it game by game, as they say on the coaching side, because we know we can’t take anything for granted,” Coach Neto told reporters. “We know there’s a very competitive team on the other side and it has to be Portugal at the highest level, with the same spirit, ability and attitude that we’ve had, whether it’s in a private match, a World Cup match or a qualifying match.”
The UEFA Women’s Euro2025 will take place in Switzerland from July 2 to 27, 2025.
To reach the final phase of the tournament, Portugal will need to finish in one of the top three places in its group and get through two play-offs. The top teams are guaranteed promotion to the A League.
Portugal’s squad against Northern Ireland
- Goalkeepers: Inês Pereira (Servette FC/Sui), Patrícia Morais (Sporting de Braga) and Sierra Cota-Yarde (Universidade de Arkansas/EUA).
- Defenders: Alícia Correia (Sporting), Ana Borges (Sporting), Ana Seiça (Benfica), Carole Costa (Benfica), Catarina Amado (Benfica), Diana Gomes (Sevilha/Esp), Joana Marchão (Servette FC/Sui) and Lúcia Alves (Benfica)
- Midfielders: Ana Rute (Sporting de Braga), Andreia Norton (Benfica), Andreia Jacinto (Real Sociedad/Esp), Andreia Faria (Benfica), Beatriz Cameirão (Damaiense), Dolores Silva (Sporting de Braga), Joana Martins (Sporting) and Kika Nazareth (Benfica).
- Forwards: Ana Dias (Portland Thorns, EUA), Carolina Mendes (Sporting de Braga), Diana Silva (Sporting), Jéssica Silva (Benfica), Stephanie Ribeiro (Pumas UNAM, México) and Telma Encarnação (Marítimo).
Some Lusa material used in this report
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Rhode Island native named to Portugal’s women’s national soccer team
