BRAZILIAN BRILLIANCE: BIA AND DEBINHA FUEL CURRENT ATTACK MIDWAY THROUGH SEASON

Down a goal in a match June 14 against the Chicago Red Stars, Kansas City Current forward Bia Zaneratto fielded defender Izzy Rodriguez’s corner kick.

Her back to goal, Bia twirled around, whipping a pirouette-like equalizer past Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and into the net.

“Bia has made a name for herself internationally, but she was still relatively unknown in the NWSL and we’re so happy she chose to come here,” Kansas City head coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “She’s strong, she’s good on the ball, she can eliminate players on the dribble or on the run, she can find players in space and she finishes well.”

Just seven minutes later, Bia sent a through ball to attacking midfielder Debinha.

Debinha spun past her mark, setting up forward Temwa Chawinga to find the bottom right corner and put the Current up 2-1 in an eventual 2-2 draw.

“Deb is one of the most creative players in this game,” Andonovski said. “She’s crafty, has unbelievable awareness with an amazing first touch. She can create chances in the attack and put the ball in the goal with style.”

Bia and Debinha have played for the Brazilian national team together since 2011, contributing to a squad that has won four consecutive Copa America titles. Bia has appeared in 109 competitions for Brazil, scoring 38 times. Debinha has scored 59 goals across 124 games wearing yellow and green.

This season, they have linked up on a club team for the first time ever.

“We have this Brazilian connection that allows us to know where each other are, and things fall into place when we’re both present,” Bia said through a translator. “This connection is going to work out even further and end in goals.”

Hailing from Araraquara, State of São Paulo, Bia began her professional soccer career at just 13 years of age, signing with top-flight club Ferroviária before leaving her home country to play for South Korean squad Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels. Bia led the Red Angels to seven consecutive WK League titles from 2013 to 2019, scoring 78 goals in 103 appearances. She led the league in goals in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The forward transferred to Wuhan Jianghan University in 2020-2021, tallying seven goals in nine appearances. She played alongside Chawinga in China.

After winning the Chinese Women’s Super League in 2020, Bia returned home to Brazil and joined Palmeiras on loan. The move became permanent in 2022 and she played two seasons with the club as team captain, recording 15 goals in 22 matches.

She signed with Kansas City in January 2024 and said the transition, though challenging, has been made easier with the help of her teammates.

“All of them were very receptive,” Bia said. “Since I don’t speak their language, they already find anything I try to say in English incredible.”

This is Bia’s first time playing professional soccer in the United States. She has scored five goals and notched four assists this season, earning NWSL Player of the Month honors in March/April presented by EA Sports. Her nine combined goals and assists place her tied for fifth in the NWSL with teammate Vanessa DiBernardo.

“It’s a new challenge because I’m leaving the comfort of my home and my country and going to a place that I believe has one of the biggest leagues, it’s very competitive,” Bia said. “It’s a very professional challenge and it’s done me well.”

Debinha, who spent five seasons with the North Carolina Courage before joining the Current, grew up in Brasópolis, Minas Gerais — a small town in the country’s southeast region, about a four-hour drive away from São Paulo.

She began her professional career with São Paulo club Saad Esporte Clube in 2008, playing alongside Brazilian soccer legend Mariléia dos Santos (commonly known by her nickname Michael Jackson) before spending two seasons with Brazilian team Centro Olímpico.

Debinha played for Norwegian club Avaldsnes between 2013 and 2015, scoring 23 goals in 30 appearances and spent a year with Chinese team Dalian Quanjian. 

She began playing in the United States in 2017, signing with the Western New York Flash days before the franchise announced its sale and move to North Carolina. In her first season, she played alongside fellow Brazilian and Avaldsnes teammate Rosana as she acquainted herself with the United States. While with the Courage, Debinha appeared in 106 regular season games, scoring 35 goals.

The Current signed Debinha in 2023. In her first year with the team, she set the club’s single-season record with nine goals. She sits tied for ninth in the NWSL all-time with 45 career regular season goals.

“I feel lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to be on the team that has the first stadium and this incredible (training) facility,” Debinha said. “This is a win for the Kansas City Current but also a win for women’s sports.”

Though Bia suffered a broken bone in her foot that will sideline her for the next six to eight weeks, she will likely return before the season’s end. Debinha remains a key cog in the Kansas City attacking machine. With ten games left in the regular season and the playoffs on the horizon, the two Brazilians will be instrumental down the final stretch.

“I’m very proud to be a part of this story which is being built in this club,” Bia said.