María Eugenia Rubio (footballer)
María Eugenia Rubio Ríos, also called La Peque, is a retired footballer who played as a forward for the unofficial Mexico women's national football team at the 1970 and 1971 Women's World Cups.[1] In 2018, she became the first Mexican woman inducted into the International Football Hall of Fame in Pachuca, Mexico.[2][3] In 1999, she was named the eighth best woman player in Concacaf during the 20th century.[4]
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | María Eugenia Rubio Ríos | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
International career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
Mexico |
International career
1970 Coppa del Mondo
In the first match of the 1970 Women's World Cup, contested between Mexico and Austria in Bari, Italy, Rubio scored the tournament's first goal in the first minute of the match. She scored again in the 31st minute of the match.[5] Mexico finished the tournament in third place.[6] Rubio was celebrated at the airport upon the team's return from Italy.[7]
1971 Mundial
Rubio again scored the tournament's first goal, in the 21st minute against Argentina, and scored a second in the 49th minute in a 3–1 victory on 15 August 1971.[8][9][10] She was among the players who requested to be paid before playing in the final match against Denmark, which Mexico lost to finish second in the tournament.[11]
Playing style
Rubio was among the shortest players on the Mexican team, earning her the nickname La Peque ("the short one"). Her dribbling ability was remarked upon by reports, including one story that suggested she ran through the legs of a taller Austrian defender.[12]
Personal life
Rubio's brother Sergio played professionally for Cruz Azul and C.D. Guadalajara, where he was nicknamed El Peque.[13]
Honors
References
- "Ella es María Eugenia Rubio, 'La Peque', la histórica futbolista mexicana".
- "María Eugenia 'La Peque' Rubio, la primera mexicana en el Salón de la Fama del Fútbol" [María Eugenia 'La Peque' Rubio, the first Mexican in the Football Hall of Fame]. Marca (in Spanish). 16 April 2018. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- "María Eugenia 'La Peque' Rubio: "Estar en este lugar es tan especial para mí"" [María Eugenia 'La Peque' Rubio: "Being in this place is so special for me"] (in Spanish). 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 19 August 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- "IFFHS CONCACAF WOMEN TEAM OF THE XXth CENTURY (1901-2000)" (Press release). International Federation of Football History & Statistics. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- Garin, Erik; Hansson, Örjan; Morrison, Neil; Stokkermans, Karel (2 September 2021). "Coppa del Mondo (Women) 1970". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- Sánchez, José Eugenio (3 October 2020). "peque rubio". Poetripiados. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- Elsey, Brenda; Nadel, Joshua H. (2019). Futbolera: a history of women and sports in Latin America. University of Texas Press. p. 220. doi:10.7560/310427. ISBN 9781477318591.
- Andrade, Diego (20 June 2020). "Fuerza y ejemplo" [Strength and example]. Once. Vol. 3, no. 818 (published 27 June 2020). Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- "¡Convencieron y Ganaron Las Mexicanas" [The Mexicans win convincingly]. El Universal. 16 August 1971.
- Garin, Erik; Hansson, Örjan; Morrison, Neil (2 September 2021). "II Campeonato Mundial de Fútbol Femenil (Women) 1971". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- "Sports heroines: The Mexicans who made history". ESPN. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- Elsey, Brenda; Nadel, Joshua H. (2019). Futbolera: a history of women and sports in Latin America. University of Texas Press. p. 226. doi:10.7560/310427. ISBN 9781477318591.
- Elsey, Brenda; Nadel, Joshua H. (2019). Futbolera: a history of women and sports in Latin America. University of Texas Press. p. 317. doi:10.7560/310427. ISBN 9781477318591.
- "Conoce a los Investidos" [Meet the Inductees]. International Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 30 April 2023.