Yunaira López

Yunaira López
Personal information
Full name Yunaira Jessely López Moreno[1]
Date of birth (2004-12-04) 4 December 2004[1]
Place of birth Carepa, Colombia[2]
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 FC Juárez
Number 5
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Independiente Medellín
2023–2024 Atlético Nacional
2025 Lexington SC 1 (0)
2025– FC Juárez 0 (0)
International career‡
2022–2024 Colombia U20 7+ (1+)
2025– Colombia 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 July 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 8 July 2025

Yunaira Jessely López Moreno (born 4 December 2004) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Liga MX Femenil club FC Juárez and the Colombia national team.

Club career

López started her career with Independiente Medellín before joining Atlético Nacional.[3] She was part of the squad that competed in the 2023 Copa Liberatores[4] before being eliminated in the semifinals.[5] In 2024, López showed stability, winning 83.5% of her aerial duels and 81.2% of her defensive duels.[3] She also scored a goal for Atlético Nacional in July 2024 to help the team climb to the top of the Colombian Women's Football League standings.[6]

On 22 January 2025, López signed with American club Lexington SC midway through the inaugural USL Super League season.[3] She made her USLS debut in a defeat to Spokane Zephyr FC on 16 April.[7] It would prove to be her only appearance with Lexington[8] before she parted ways with the club in May 2025.[9]

López signed with Liga MX Femenil team FC Juárez on 6 June 2025, bolstering the squad ahead of the 2025–26 Liga MX Femenil season.[10]

International career

Youth

López was included in Colombia's squad for the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[11] She was a consistent starter as Colombia were eliminated in the quarterfinals.[3]

Two years later, López also played in the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, which was hosted by Colombia.[1] During the team's opening match,[12] against Australia, she scored Colombia's first tournament goal by capitalizing on a scramble in the box following a corner kick; Linda Caicedo also scored as Colombia secured a 2–0 victory to start off their campaign.[13][14] In the team's final group stage match, versus Mexico, López attempted to head an aerial ball when she collided with teammate Luisa Agudelo.[15] She sustained a blow to the head and was left laying prone on the field following the incident.[16] López was subsequently fitted with a neck brace,[15] stretchered off of the pitch, and transported to the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital via ambulance.[16] Medical staff later reported that while López had suffered mild head trauma, she was stable and had not developed any neurological disorders.[17] She was able to recover from the injury and made her return to the field in Colombia's quarterfinal match against the Netherlands, coming on as a substitute for Sintia Cabezas in extra time. The Netherlands eventually vanquished Colombia on penalties, ending the host's tournament run.[18]

Senior

López received her first call-up to the Colombian senior team in March 2025, ahead of a friendly match against Japan on 7 April.[19] She was awarded her first international cap and start as Colombia lost the game, 6–1.[2]

Career statistics

International

As of 8 July 2025
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Colombia 2025 1 0
Total 1 0

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Squad List: FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Selección Colombia femenina sufrió aplastante derrota ante Japón". El Universal (in Spanish). 8 April 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Lexington Sporting Club Signs Defender Yunaira Lopez for USL Super League Season". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  4. ^ Cali, Portal Alcaldía de Santiago de (4 October 2023). "Atlético Nacional, ilustre debutante y grandes refuerzos para la Conmebol Libertadores Femenina". Portal Alcaldía de Santiago de Cali (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Palmeiras, Corinthians set up seismic Libertadores Femenina final". FIFA. 18 October 2023. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  6. ^ Nacional, Atlético (18 May 2024). "Triunfo en Barranquilla para obtener el liderato de la Liga". Atlético Nacional (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Defensive Difficulties Force Loss for Lexington SC Women". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  8. ^ Yunaira López at Soccerway
  9. ^ "Lexington SC Announces A Roster Update for Women's USL Super League Squad". Lexington Sporting Club. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Se refuerza Bravas con la colombiana Yunaira López". Netnoticias (in Spanish). 6 June 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Colombia definió las jugadoras convocadas para la Copa Mundial Femenina U20 de la FIFA Costa Rica 2022 – Comité Olímpico Colombiano". Olimpico Colombia (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  12. ^ Martinez, Daniel (2 September 2024). "Yunaira López y las fortalezas de la Selección Colombia en el Mundial Femenino Sub-20". El Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Colombia Con goles de Yunaira López en el 52' y de Linda Caicedo en el 67' ganó 2-0 a Australia". Reporteros Asociados (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  14. ^ Duarte, Daniela (1 September 2024). "Colombia vs. Australia: así fue el gol de Yunaira López". LaFM (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  15. ^ a b Amézquita, Christian (6 September 2024). "Parte médico de Yunaira López, tras fuerte golpe en su cabeza en el Colombia Vs. México". Caracol Radio (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Yunaira López se retiró en camilla en Colombia-México tras un fuerte golpe en su cabeza". ESPN (in Spanish). 7 September 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  17. ^ País, El (6 September 2024). "Parte médico de Yunaira López, futbolista de Colombia que fue retirada en ambulancia". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Colombia se despidió del Mundial Femenino Sub-20". Reporteros Asociados (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  19. ^ "Novedades de la Selección Colombia Femenina para enfrentar a Japón". La Voz de Yopal (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
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