Linda Caicedo Biography

Linda Lizeth Caicedo Alegría (February 22, 2005), internationally recognized as Linda Caicedo, is a professional footballer hailing from Candelaria, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. She is renowned for being the forward of Real Madrid C.F.

 

Early years

Linda Caicedo, the distinguished Colombian professional footballer, has always carried the love for football in her heart since she was a little girl. Accompanied by the encouragement of her parents, Mauricio Caicedo and Herlinda Alegría, Linda pursued her dream with passion and determination. Despite Real Juanchito FC, the school she attended, being primarily oriented towards boys, her skills and dedication led her to become a role model for young female footballers.

It was during this crucial time that Linda perfected her dribbling and shooting skills. This formative period became of utmost importance for the player, who confidently asserts that many of the abilities she possesses today were acquired at that school.

 

Beginnings

At the age of 10, Linda took her first steps in women’s football by joining the prestigious club Generaciones Palmiranas, known for nurturing prominent figures in Colombian football. During that time, the coach of the senior women’s national team, Felipe Taborda, had the opportunity to witness Linda Caicedo’s talent firsthand. Just a year later, Linda was transferred to Club Deportivo Atlas C.P. a football team founded in Cali by the player Carolina Pineda.

Linda shone in national tournaments, becoming the top scorer on multiple occasions. Additionally, two years later, she stood out in the Selección Valle, earning championships and goals. All of this propelled her towards a professional football career.

 

Career

Linda Caicedo made her debut in professional football with the team América de Cali, thanks to the recommendation of Carolina Pineda to Marcela Gómez, president of the women’s team. Despite her young age, Linda demonstrated impressive skills that prepared her for the professional game. On July 15, 2019, at just 14 years old and wearing the number 15 jersey, she made her professional debut against Cortuluá. She entered the match in the 74th minute and quickly showcased her charm on the field. Linda Caicedo finished that league as the top scorer. However, she couldn’t participate in the Copa Libertadores Femenina that year due to the regulation stipulating that players must be at least 16 years old, and at that time, the forward was only 14 years old.

In the first quarter of 2020, the young footballer changed teams and joined the azucareras of Deportivo Cali for three seasons. Her first year with the green and white team was not particularly outstanding, scoring only three goals. However, in 2021, she achieved her second national title and made her debut in the Copa Libertadores Femenina, scoring four goals, although the Cali team was eliminated in the quarter-finals.

 

2023: Real Madrid C.F.

In February 2023, just two days after reaching the age of majority, Linda Caicedo confirmed her incorporation into Real Madrid, becoming the first Colombian to join the women’s team of this prestigious Spanish club. She made her debut with the merengue team a week after the news, in a match against Alhama CF.

She entered the game in the 74th minute and had scoring opportunities but couldn’t find the back of the net. On March 9, 2023, Caicedo scored her first goal with the Spanish team in the victory against Villarreal.

 

Women’s National Team career

Linda Caicedo made her debut with the national team in November 2019. In the 2022 Copa América Femenina, she scored three goals and was named the tournament’s best player. She also stood out in the U-20 and U-17 FIFA World Cups, leading Colombia to the final and receiving awards for her outstanding performances. Her talent has made a lasting impact on Colombian football. In the latter, Linda was awarded the Silver Ball and the Bronze Boot in that tournament.

In 2023, Linda received a call-up to participate in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. At just 18 years old, this talented footballer from Valle del Cauca achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Colombian, including male players, to score in all categories of the World Cups.

Her first World Cup was the U-20 in 2022, where she scored a brace against New Zealand on August 16th. Later, she participated in the U-17 World Cup, scoring another brace against China on October 15th, 2022, one against Mexico on October 18th, and another against Tanzania on October 22nd. Her exceptional performance has turned her into a shining star of Colombian women’s football.

 

Personal life

Linda Caicedo’s love life has piqued the curiosity of many of her followers. As of the current date, it is known that the footballer has been in two public relationships. In early 2023, videos surfaced showing her in the company of a young woman from Cali, but weeks later, Linda was seen with another person. This woman, named Valentina Herrera, appears to be her current partner, and both reside together in Madrid.

 

 

Battle Against Cancer

At the age of 15, Linda Caicedo received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

“What I remember was that I had to undergo surgery one day, and I felt really bad (…) I thought I wouldn’t return to top-level football”.

In the year 2020, when Linda was part of Deportivo Cali’s squad, she faced a difficult situation due to her diagnosis of ovarian cancer. During that season, she couldn’t showcase her best performance due to this illness. In April of the same year, Linda began her treatment to combat cancer. As a result, she experienced hair loss, leading her to wear a wig during a match against Junior, an experience that showcased her bravery and determination to push forward amid adverse circumstances.