FIFA World Cup 2023 Matildas v Sweden bronze medal playoff: Sydney FC teen inspired by Aussies

She’s the 15-year-old Young Matilda who has played a small and special role in the success of the FIFA women’s World Cup in Australia but who you may not know – yet.

She’s been hailed as one of Australia’s next big things in women’s football and has big dreams to go with her extraordinary talent.

And right now the Matildas – bracing for their bronze medal showdown against Sweden – are showing Indiana Dos Santos she can have it all.

The 15-year old midfielder has already played a small part in the success of the FIFA World Cup, involved in filming around the event with sponsor Visa due to her status as a rising star of the game.

But the Sydney FC teenager wants to be starring in a different role in the future and emulating what the Matildas are achieved right now as they take on and conquer the world – and the Australian public – at the FIFA World Cup.

Dos Santos has already broken multiple records for Sydney FC in the A-League Womens competition, becoming the youngest ever debutant at 15 years and 117 days in March, the youngest Sky Blue player to score a goal and the youngest to step foot onto the pitch in a grand final as part of Sydney FC‘s extraordinary 4–0 win over Western United earlier this year.

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Teenager Indiana Dos Santos in her A League Women's debut for Sydney FC

Young Matildas players Jynaya Dos Santos and Indiana Dos Santos

Now she is not just dreaming of playing for the Matildas but also for one of the most famous football clubs in the world, Barcelona FC.

And the youngster wants to be doing this with her older sister Jynaya and younger sister Kyani, just 13, by her side.

Both Indi and Jynaya are members of the Young Matildas and were part of their AFC under 20 women’s Asian Cup qualifiers.

While Indi is a midfielder, Jynaya is a striker with the pair starting their football career at Shellharbour junior football club, the home club of Matildas star Caitlin Foord, one of the stars of the current World Cup campaign.

Sydney FC gun Indiana Dos Santos and Jynaya Dos Santos with the A-League Grand Final trophy after their victory over Western United.

“We all just grew up around football and one day Dad just came home and said let’s go try soccer are we loved it from day one,” Dos Santos said.

“He used to play when he was young and he’s just passed on his love for it to us.

“I want to play professionally with my sisters one day and also at the Barcelona club. It’s a very good team. I see myself playing there, hopefully.

“But it would also mean the world to me for all of us to play together side-by-side.’’

Mary Fowler in action during the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal against France.

Young Matildas player Indiana Dos Santos.

Dos Santos developed her skills playing with boys and while they are still her mates, she misses not being able to play with them anymore.

“I like playing with the girls but they boys were always such a challenge,’’ said the Westfields Sports High student.

“There was such a high intensity and I loved playing with them. They were strong and tall and they made me physically better. I played with him until I was 12.’’

Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley celebrate the team’s win over France.

Dos Santos said her favourite players are Foord because she is “so skilful and good and doesn’t get as much credit as she deserves’’ and Mary Fowler, 20, who she relates to due to her age.

“She’s such a young talent, so good and she’s similar to my age, which is pretty cool,“ she said.

The young gun said she has been made so proud to be an Australian and football player by the Matildas at the World Cup.

“It’s helping the women’s game so much, grow so much,’’ she said.

“The fans are going off, there’s record crowds. We are just getting so much respect.

“People have said it’s (the women’s game) is not as good as boys soccer, but that’s just not right.’’

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