1. Early life
Maribel Domínguez Castelán was born on 18 November 1978, the youngest of ten children, in Mexico City, Mexico. She grew up in the rural suburb of Chalco. From an early age, Domínguez developed a deep passion for football, despite facing significant societal and familial obstacles. Her father, holding traditional views, disapproved of football for both his sons and daughter. Domínguez would often sneak out of the house to practice in the streets with her three brothers when her father was at work.
Due to the prevailing gender norms and the lack of organized girls' teams in Mexico during her youth, Domínguez often played football disguised as a boy. She kept her hair short and was known to the neighborhood boys as "Mario." Her true gender was only revealed when her picture appeared in a newspaper after she joined a sub-national women's team. In 1997, when she joined a women's team called Inter, she was subjected to a full body inspection by a female Mexican league official. This invasive procedure was required to verify her sex, as her short hair and exceptional playing ability led some to believe she was male. Domínguez courageously challenged the inspector, stating, "All right, but only if you do the same," after which she was not questioned again. This incident underscored the profound challenges and scrutiny female athletes faced in Mexico due to gender-based stereotypes and the nascent state of women's football infrastructure.
2. Playing career
Maribel Domínguez enjoyed an extensive and impactful career as a professional footballer, playing in the United States, Spain, and Mexico. She was a prolific forward, renowned for her goal-scoring ability and leadership on the field, particularly for the Mexico women's national team.
2.1. Club career
Domínguez's club career spanned across various leagues, where she consistently demonstrated her scoring prowess and contributed significantly to her teams' successes.
2.1.1. United States Leagues
With the absence of a professional women's league in Mexico, Domínguez moved to the United States to pursue her football career and further develop her skills. In 2002, she joined the Kansas City Mystics in the W-League. In her sole season with the Mystics, she led the league with 17 goals and 12 assists, helping the team secure the Midwest Division title. Her outstanding performance earned her the W-League's Most Valuable Player award.
The following year, in 2003, Domínguez signed with the Atlanta Beat in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), which was then the top professional soccer division in the United States. She made history as the first Mexico-born player to sign with the league since its inception in 2001. During her first month with the team, she was named the WUSA Player of the Month after scoring five goals and two assists in three games. She finished the 2003 season as a leading scorer in the league with seven goals, contributing to the Beat's second-place finish in the standings. Domínguez described her experience in the WUSA as "very special," ranking it among the best moments of her career, alongside her goal in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.
In 2007, Domínguez had a brief stint with the San Diego Sunwaves in the American W-League during the summer season, fulfilling a prior obligation. She scored on her debut against Vancouver Whitecaps and finished with three goals in three games, helping the team reach the semifinals.
In 2013, Domínguez returned to the United States to join the Chicago Red Stars for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the new top-tier professional soccer league. She was allocated to the Red Stars along with her Mexico national teammate, Dinora Garza. Domínguez started in 9 of her 16 appearances for the Red Stars, playing a total of 705 minutes. She scored two goals during the season, both game-opening goals in 3-3 draws against FC Kansas City and Sky Blue FC. The Red Stars finished sixth in the standings with an 8-6-8 record.
2.1.2. Spanish Leagues
In December 2004, Domínguez garnered international attention when she signed a two-year contract with Atlético Celaya, a men's second division team in Guanajuato, Mexico. This unprecedented offer stemmed from the lack of a decent amateur women's league in Mexico, prompting Domínguez to seek alternative professional opportunities. While the Mexican Football Association initially did not object, they deferred to FIFA for an official ruling. FIFA controversially ruled against mixed-sex football teams, stating, "There must be a clear separation between men's and women's football." This decision effectively nullified her contract and prevented her from playing for the men's team, highlighting the institutional barriers women faced in challenging traditional gender roles in sports. Domínguez expressed her disappointment, stating, "I just wanted to be given the chance to try. If I failed I would have been the first to say I can't do it, the first to admit it doesn't work. But at least I would have tried."
Beginning in early 2005, Domínguez moved to Spain to play for FC Barcelona in the top division league, Superliga Femenina. The team was struggling to avoid relegation when she joined. Her debut for FC Barcelona on 30 January 2005 against Torrejón was remarkable, as she scored a hat-trick and helped her squad to a 5-3 victory. This win was pivotal, enabling Barcelona to escape the bottom of the league and ultimately secure their Superliga status, leading to the renewal of her contract for another year. She was one of the first foreign women's footballers to be granted a license to play in Spain.
In January 2007, Domínguez signed with UE L'Estartit in Spain's second division. Despite playing only half of the season, she scored an impressive 22 goals, leading the club to win the championship title and achieve promotion to the first division Superliga for the first time in the team's history. In the 2007-08 season, she continued her strong performance, scoring 15 goals for UE L'Estartit in the Superliga Femenina. During the 2008-09 season, Domínguez also began coaching L'Estartit's youth teams, revealing her ultimate dream of coaching the Mexico women's national team. However, difficulties with her visa and commitments with the Mexico national team eventually reduced her playing time with UE L'Estartit. By April 2012, UE L'Estartit acknowledged that she would not be returning to the team.
2.1.3. Mexican Leagues
After concluding her American season with the Chicago Red Stars in 2013, Domínguez returned to Mexico to play for UAEH Panteras, a team affiliated with Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo in the Super Liga Femenil de Fútbol. She made an immediate impact, scoring a debut hat-trick in the Panteras' 6-2 victory over Laguna FC in August 2013, marking the end of her playing career.
2.2. International career
Maribel Domínguez enjoyed a distinguished international career with the Mexico women's national football team, becoming their all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. She is the only Mexican player to have appeared and scored for the national team in the Olympic Games, World Cup, CONCACAF W Championship (formerly Gold Cup), and Pan American Games.
2.2.1. National team debut and early career
Domínguez received her first call-up to the Mexico women's national football team in 1998 at the age of 20. She quickly made her mark, helping the team qualify for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. In September 1998, she scored her first international goal against Russia in the Women's US Cup. She further contributed with two goals against Argentina in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification inter-confederation play-off, securing Mexico's historic first-ever World Cup appearance. In the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, she scored Mexico's only goal of the tournament in a 7-1 loss to Brazil at Giants Stadium.
2.2.2. Major tournament participation
In 2002, Domínguez was part of the Mexico squad that earned a bronze medal in the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup. She was the top scorer during the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2004 Athens Olympics, netting nine goals - a first in the history of the Mexico national team. During the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Domínguez led the Mexico national team to the quarter-finals, scoring the team's only goal during the tournament against China.
On 5 November 2010, Domínguez scored the opening goal in Mexico's significant 2-1 upset victory over the United States during the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament. She capitalized on a looping pass, breaking behind the U.S. defensive line just two minutes into the game and tapping her shot past the American goalkeeper to give Mexico an early lead. This victory secured Mexico's qualification for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup after a 12-year absence.
In 2011, Domínguez captained the Mexico squad to a bronze medal win at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. During the team's second group stage match against Trinidad and Tobago, she scored Mexico's only goal from a penalty kick in the 42nd minute, securing a 1-1 draw. Mexico advanced to the semifinals but was defeated by Brazil before clinching the bronze medal.
The same year, Domínguez led Mexico to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. The squad's opening group stage match resulted in a 1-1 draw against England. In their third and final group stage match against New Zealand, Domínguez scored Mexico's second goal in the 29th minute, contributing to a 2-2 draw. Mexico earned two points in the tournament, their highest ever at a Women's World Cup, but did not advance to the quarter-finals.
In 2012, Domínguez scored three goals during the qualifying round of the 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Despite her efforts, the team was eliminated, failing to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
In 2014, Domínguez participated in the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games held in Mexico. She scored two goals in five matches, leading the Mexico women's national team to their first-ever gold medal and first international tournament victory in the competition's history. She continued to play for the national team through the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship, scoring four goals. However, Mexico was again eliminated, failing to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics. She retired from international football after this tournament, leaving a record of 116 caps and 82 goals.
2.2.3. Records and achievements
Maribel Domínguez holds several significant records for the Mexico women's national team. She has played the most games (116) and scored the most goals (82) in the history of the women's national team. Her goal tally surpasses that of any single Mexican national player, including those in the men's squad. In 2004, she was ranked among FIFA's top 25 women players in the world, and in 2005, she was nominated for the FIFA Player of the Year award. She holds the unique distinction of being the only Mexican player to have appeared in and scored for the Mexico squad in the Olympic Games, FIFA Women's World Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and Pan American Games.
2.2.4. International goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 20 September 1998 | Richmond, United States | Russia | 1-? | 1-5 | 1998 Women's U.S. Cup |
| 2. | 14 December 1998 | Toluca, Mexico | Argentina | 2-1 | 3-1 | 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 19 December 1998 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Argentina | 1-0 | 3-2 | |
| 4. | 19 June 1999 | East Rutherford, United States | Brazil | 1-1 | 1-7 | 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| 5. | 7 May 2000 | Portland, United States | South Korea | 2-0 | 4-1 | 2000 Women's U.S. Cup |
| 6. | 3-1 | |||||
| 7. | 24 June 2000 | Foxborough, United States | Canada | 1-0 | 3-4 | 2000 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup |
| 8. | 2-2 | |||||
| 9. | 26 June 2000 | Hershey, United States | Guatemala | 1-0 | 7-0 | |
| 10. | 4-0 | |||||
| 11. | 6-0 | |||||
| 12. | 10 December 2000 | Houston, United States | United States | 1-1 | 2-3 | Friendly |
| 13. | 29 October 2002 | Fullerton, United States | Panama | 5-1 | 5-1 | 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup |
| 14. | 9 November 2002 | Pasadena, United States | Costa Rica | 3-1 | 4-1 | |
| 15. | 4-1 | |||||
| 16. | 1 February 2003 | Canberra, Australia | South Korea | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2003 Australia Cup |
| 17. | 12 December 2003 | Tegucigalpa, Honduras | Nicaragua | 1-0 | 8-0 | 2004 CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament qualification |
| 18. | 3-0 | |||||
| 19. | 5-0 | |||||
| 20. | 6-0 | |||||
| 21. | 14 December 2003 | Honduras | 1-0 | 6-0 | ||
| 22. | 3-0 | |||||
| 23. | 25 February 2004 | San José, Costa Rica | Haiti | 4-0 | 5-0 | 2004 CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament |
| 24. | 5-0 | |||||
| 25. | 27 February 2004 | Heredia, Costa Rica | Trinidad and Tobago | 4-0 | 8-1 | |
| 26. | 6-1 | |||||
| 27. | 7-1 | |||||
| 28. | 3 March 2004 | San José, Costa Rica | Canada | 1-0 | 2-1 | |
| 29. | 2-0 | |||||
| 30. | 5 March 2004 | Heredia, Costa Rica | United States | 1-0 | 2-3 | |
| 31. | 2-0 | |||||
| 32. | 7 July 2004 | Mexico City, Mexico | Australia | 1-2 | 1-2 | Friendly |
| 33. | 10 July 2004 | Guadalajara, Mexico | Australia | 1-0 | 2-0 | |
| 34. | 2-0 | |||||
| 35. | 14 August 2004 | Patras, Greece | China PR | 1-0 | 1-1 | 2004 Summer Olympics |
| 36. | 19 November 2006 | Miami, United States | Trinidad and Tobago | 3-0 | 3-0 | 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup |
| 37. | 26 November 2006 | Carson, United States | Jamaica | 2-0 | 3-0 | |
| 38. | 17 March 2007 | Toluca, Mexico | Japan | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
| 39. | 17 October 2010 | Suwon, South Korea | Australia | 1-3 | 1-3 | 2010 Peace Queen Cup |
| 40. | 29 October 2010 | Cancún, Mexico | Guyana | 2-0 | 7-2 | 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying |
| 41. | 3-1 | |||||
| 42. | 6-2 | |||||
| 43. | 7-2 | |||||
| 44. | 31 October 2010 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1-0 | 2-0 | ||
| 45. | 5 November 2010 | United States | 1-0 | 2-1 | ||
| 46. | 7 March 2011 | Sotira, Cyprus | Northern Ireland | 1-0 | 3-1 | 2011 Cyprus Women's Cup |
| 47. | 22 April 2011 | Chía, Colombia | Colombia | 3-1 | 3-2 | Friendly |
| 48. | 24 April 2011 | Colombia | 1-1 | 4-2 | ||
| 49. | 4-2 | |||||
| 50. | 5 July 2011 | Sinsheim, Germany | New Zealand | 2-0 | 2-2 | 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| 51. | 20 October 2011 | Guadalajara, Mexico | Trinidad and Tobago | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2011 Pan American Games |
| 52. | 22 January 2012 | Vancouver, Canada | Guatemala | 2-0 | 5-0 | 2012 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
| 53. | 4-0 | |||||
| 54. | 5-0 | |||||
| 55. | 13 December 2012 | São Paulo, Brazil | Brazil | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2012 International Women's Football Tournament |
| 56. | 19 November 2014 | Veracruz, Mexico | Trinidad and Tobago | 2-0 | 6-0 | 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games |
| 57. | 27 November 2014 | Colombia | 2-0 | 2-0 | ||
| 58. | 26 January 2016 | Foshan, China | Vietnam | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2016 Four Nations Tournament |
| 59. | 10 February 2016 | Frisco, United States | Puerto Rico | 1-0 | 6-0 | 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship |
| 60. | 3-0 | |||||
| 61. | 5-0 | |||||
| 62. | 15 February 2016 | Costa Rica | 1-2 | 1-2 | ||
3. Managerial career
Following her illustrious playing career, Maribel Domínguez transitioned into coaching, focusing on the development of Mexico's national youth teams.
3.1. Mexico Youth National Teams
Domínguez began her coaching career in 2017 as an assistant coach for the Mexico U-17 women's national team. In 2018, she took on the role of head coach for the Mexico U-15 girls' national football team, leading them to a runner-up finish at the 2018 CONCACAF Girls' Under-15 Championship on 8 August 2018.
From 2019 to 2020, she managed the Mexico U-17 team. On 19 January 2021, Domínguez was appointed manager of the Mexico women's national under-20 football team. Under her leadership, the team qualified for the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup for the ninth time in history (and eighth consecutive qualification) and reached the final of the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship, where they finished as runners-up.
However, on 21 July 2022, the FMF suspended Domínguez and her coaching staff and separated them from the team, citing an internal investigation into a matter that required their removal.
4. Tournament records
This section provides a consolidated overview of Maribel Domínguez's performance statistics across major international football tournaments, including matches played and goals scored.
4.1. FIFA Women's World Cup
| Tournament | Location | Result | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup | United States | Group stage | 3 | 1 |
| 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup | Germany | Group stage | 3 | 1 |
4.2. Olympic Games
| Tournament | Location | Result | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Summer Olympics | Greece | Quarterfinal | 3 | 1 |
4.3. CONCACAF W Championship
| Tournament | Location | Result | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup | United States | Group stage | 3 | 5 |
| 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup | United States | Bronze medal | 5 | 3 |
| 2006 CONCACAF Gold Cup | United States | Bronze medal | 3 | 2 |
4.4. Pan American Games
| Tournament | Location | Result | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Pan American Games | Mexico | Bronze medal | 3 | 1 |
5. Honors and awards
Maribel Domínguez received numerous individual and team accolades throughout her career as both a player and a coach, recognizing her exceptional contributions to football.
5.1. Player awards
- W-League Most Valuable Player: 2002
- W-League Team of the Week: 2002 (3 times)
- WUSA Player of the Month: 2003
- FIFA Player of the Year nominee: 2005
5.2. Managerial awards
- CONCACAF Girls' Under-15 Championship: Runners-up: 2018
- CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship: Runners-up: 2022
6. Impact and legacy
Maribel Domínguez's career has had a profound and lasting impact on women's football in Mexico and beyond. As a trailblazer, she navigated and challenged a landscape that offered limited opportunities for female athletes, often having to play disguised as a boy and enduring invasive gender verification processes. Her determination to pursue football despite familial and societal disapproval paved the way for future generations.
Domínguez's move to professional leagues in the United States and Spain, particularly as the first Mexico-born player in the WUSA and one of the first foreign women to play in Spain's top division, showcased her talent on an international stage and highlighted the need for professional structures in her home country. Her attempt to join a men's team in Mexico, though ultimately denied by FIFA, sparked global discussion on gender segregation in sports and underscored the institutional barriers to gender equality in football. This incident, while a setback for her personally, brought significant attention to the disparities in opportunities for male and female athletes.
As the all-time leading scorer and most-capped player for the Mexico women's national team, Domínguez not only set new performance benchmarks but also elevated the profile of women's football in Mexico. Her consistent presence and leadership in major international tournaments, including the World Cup and Olympics, inspired a nation and demonstrated the potential of Mexican female athletes. The gold medal at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, achieved under her leadership, marked a historic victory for the team.
Beyond her playing career, Domínguez's transition to coaching Mexico's youth national teams further solidified her commitment to developing the sport. Her work with the U-15 and U-20 teams, leading them to significant tournament finishes and World Cup qualifications, directly contributed to nurturing new talent and strengthening the pipeline for women's football in Mexico. Despite challenges, including her eventual separation from the U-20 team, her dedication to the sport's growth remains undeniable. Maribel Domínguez's enduring legacy lies not only in her remarkable statistics and achievements but also in her unwavering fight for recognition, opportunity, and equality for women in football, making her an inspirational figure for social progress in sports.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwWufboe4zQ#t=12 Domínguez' opening goal in the second minute of Mexico's 2-1 upset victory over the United States during the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament on 5 November 2010]