Maya Lucia

{{Short description|Maltese footballer (born 2003)}}  {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Maya Lucia | image = | fullname =  | birth_name =  | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|7|6|df=y}} | birth_place = | height = 1.62 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Apollon Ladies F.C. | clubnumber = 3 | years1 = {{0|0000}}–2022 | clubs1 = Lija Athletic | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 2022–2023 | clubs2 = Genoa | caps2 = 14 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2023–2024 | clubs3 = ŽNK Split | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = 2024 | clubs4 = ŽNK Osijek | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 2024–2025 | clubs5 = AP Orlen Gdańsk | caps5 = 4 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2025– | clubs6 = Apollon Ladies F.C. | caps6 = | goals6 = | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = Malta U17 | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | nationalyears2 = | nationalteam2 = Malta U19 | nationalcaps2 = | nationalgoals2 = | nationalyears3 = 2021– | nationalteam3 = Malta | nationalcaps3 = 13 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | pcupdate = 12 June 2025 | ntupdate = 12 June 2025 }} '''Maya Lucia''' (born 6 July 2003) is a Maltese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Malta women's national team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/sport/domaci-nogomet/maltezanka-na-parku-mladezi-splicani-su-pristojni-gledaju-me-s-divljenjem-i-zanima-ih-odgovor-na-samo-jedno-pitanje-1320811|title='Splićani su pristojni, gledaju me s divljenjem i zanima ih odgovor na samo jedno pitanje'|publisher=slobodnadalmacija.hr |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231005080504/https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/sport/domaci-nogomet/maltezanka-na-parku-mladezi-splicani-su-pristojni-gledaju-me-s-divljenjem-i-zanima-ih-odgovor-na-samo-jedno-pitanje-1320811|archive-date=2023-10-05}}</ref>

==Early life==

Lucia started playing football at the age of ten.<ref name="mt">{{Cite web|url=https://newsbook.com.mt/en/watch-shooting-for-the-stars/|title=Maya Lucia - Newsbook article}}</ref>

==Club career==

Lucia played for Maltese side Lija Raiders, where she was regarded as one of the club's most important players.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sport.timesofmalta.com/2022/03/01/malta-goals-a-highlight-moment-for-raiders-lijas-in-form-maya-lucia/|title=Malta goals a highlight moment for Raiders Lija's in-form Lucia|publisher=timesofmalta.com}}</ref> In 2021, she suffered racist abuse from Mosta FC supporters during an under-19 league match, in which she also scored her team's winning goal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/after-facing-racist-abuse-maltese-national-footballer-wants-youths-to-know-youre-not-alone/|title=Lucia Wants Youths To Know 'You're Not Alone'|publisher=lovinmalta.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Abela |first=Benjamin |date=2021-01-18 |title=Malta Football Association Condemns Alleged Racist Attack On Għargħur Footballer |url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/malta-football-association-condemns-alleged-racist-attack-on-gharghur-footballer/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=Lovin Malta |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==International career==

Lucia has been described as "one of the most promising footballers in Malta".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/psychological-bullying-and-racist-comments-are-pushing-young-athletes-away-from-sports/|title=Maya Lucia - Television Malta article}}</ref> She has captained the Malta women's national under-19 football team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/watch-i-have-experienced-racism-on-the-football-pitch-and-it-hurt-me-maya-lucia-maltese-national-team-captain/|title=Maya Lucia, Maltese national team captain|publisher=tvmnews.mt}}</ref>

==Style of play==

Lucia has operated as a central midfielder while playing for her club while operating as a defensive midfielder while playing for the Malta women's national football team.<ref name="mt"/>

==Personal life==

Lucia is of Nigerian descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/110848/maya_lucia_humour_can_provide_a_platform_for_discussion_on_racism|title=Maya Lucia: Humour can provide a platform for discussion on racism|publisher=maltatoday.com.mt}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{sports links}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucia, Maya}} Category:2003 births Category:Living people Category:Maltese women's footballers Category:Malta women's international footballers Category:21st-century Maltese sportswomen Category:Women's association football midfielders Category:Genoa CFC Women players Category:ŽNK Split players Category:ŽNK Osijek players Category:Croatian Women's First Football League players Category:Ekstraliga (women's football) players Category:Maltese expatriate women's footballers Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Italy Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Croatia Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Poland Category:Maltese expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Maltese expatriate sportspeople in Croatia Category:Maltese expatriate sportspeople in Poland