Scarlett Camberos’ name is now part of the history of Mexican women’s soccer. The captain of América Femenil became the first Mexican soccer player to be nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or. This honor comes after an extraordinary season with Club América.
France Football magazine revealed the list of 30 nominees for the prestigious award, where Camberos is in the company of world-class stars such as Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, as well as Esmee Brugts, Klara Bühl, and Selma Bacha.
For the Mexican forward, the news came as a complete surprise. She was going about her daily routine when she began receiving congratulatory messages. It wasn’t until she checked her social media that she realized what was happening.
“I’m still in shock,” she admitted in a video posted by Club América Femenil.
She said that the first person she called was her mom, who at first didn’t understand what the nomination was all about.
“What’s that, from CONCACAF?” her mother asked. Camberos had to explain: “No, Mom, it’s like the one Messi wins every year.”
A season that changed everything
The nomination didn’t come by chance. Camberos was one of the standout stars of a historic season for América. The Águilas won the Liga MX Femenil and, just six days later, lifted the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. They became the first Mexican club to win this tournament and only the second champion in the competition’s history.
On an individual level, Scarlett recorded 27 goals and 17 assists in 47 matches during the 2025–2026 season, in addition to being named the Best Player of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. América itself noted that its captain played with the confidence of someone who knew she was helping to push the boundaries of Mexican women’s soccer.
From Los Angeles to representing Mexico
Although Scarlett was born in Los Angeles, California, in 2000, her parents and grandparents are Mexican. From a young age, she developed a strong connection to Mexico and always knew that representing the country professionally was one of her major goals.
“I was born there, but my heart is Mexican,” she said in an interview.
Before turning pro in Mexico, she excelled at the University of California, Irvine, where she studied Criminology, Law, and Society. In 2021, she scored 13 goals and recorded seven assists in 22 games, a performance that earned her the Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year award.
In 2022, she made her debut in the Liga MX Femenil with América, the team her father supported. During that initial stint, she scored 11 goals in 16 games and quickly began to stand out not only for her talent but also for her leadership.
A comeback after online abuse
Her journey, however, has not been easy. In 2023, she had to leave Mexico after reporting several months of harassment and online abuse. The situation ended up affecting even her performance on the field.
Camberos moved to the United States with América’s support and continued her career with Angel City of the NWSL. A year later, she returned to the Águilas and resumed her journey with the club. Now, as captain and after winning national and international titles, her name is mentioned alongside those of the best female soccer players on the planet.
“I feel like I haven’t even reached my full potential as a player yet,” she said.
And although she still doesn’t know if she’ll one day win the Ballon d’Or, Scarlett Camberos has already achieved something no other Mexican woman has ever done before: opening the door for Mexican soccer to the world’s most prestigious individual award.
