Esther González

Esther González
Esther with Gotham FC in 2025
Personal information
Full name Esther González Rodríguez
Date of birth (1992-12-08) 8 December 1992 (age 33)
Place of birth Huéscar, Spain
Height 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position Striker
Team information
Current team
 Al Qadsiah
Youth career
2000–2007 CD Huéscar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Algaidas
2009–2011 Levante 47 (12)
2011–2012 Atlético Málaga 34 (12)
2012–2013 Sporting de Huelva 27 (15)
2013–2019 Atlético de Madrid 159 (80)
2019–2021 Levante 53 (29)
2021–2023 Real Madrid 54 (30)
2023–2026 Gotham FC 64 (30)
2026– Al Qadsiah 0 (0)
International career‡
Spain U19
2016– Spain 53 (36)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  Spain
FIFA Women's World Cup
Winner2023 Australia–New Zealand
UEFA Women's Championship
Runner-up2025 Switzerland
UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship
Runner-up2009 Switzerland
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 04:39, 23 November 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 17:47, 9 July 2025 (UTC)

Esther González Rodríguez (born 8 December 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Saudi Women's Premier League club Al Qadsiah and the Spain national team. She is the all-time top scorer for Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She also previously played for Atlético Málaga, Sporting de Huelva, Atlético de Madrid, and Real Madrid.

Club career

Real Madrid

González played for Real Madrid from 2021 to 2023. She left the club as its all-time top women's scorer with 39 goals in 77 games.

Gotham FC

On 23 August 2023, National Women's Soccer League club NJ/NY Gotham FC signed Esther to a three-year contract with an option to extend for an additional year. She made her club debut on 2 September, coming on for Sinead Farrelly in a 3–3 draw away to the North Carolina Courage. The following game, she made her first start and scored her first and second NWSL goals in a 2–0 home win over the Washington Spirit. On 11 November, she headed in Midge Purce's corner to score the second goal for Gotham in the NWSL Championship Game. It stood as the game winner in a 2–1 victory over OL Reign, giving Gotham its first NWSL championship.

On 24 March 2024, Esther began the season with a goal in a 1–0 victory over the Portland Thorns. On 5 October, she assisted Rose Lavelle and scored two goals of her own against Bay FC within 4 minutes and 20 seconds, marking the fastest three-goal contribution in NWSL history. She finished the regular season with a team-high 9 goals, tied for fourth-most in the league, as Gotham placed third in the standings. In the NWSL semifinals, Esther scored the opening goal in a 1–1 draw against the Washington Spirit; Gotham lost as Esther was one of three players whose penalty attempts were saved by Aubrey Kingsbury.

In May 2025, after starting the season with seven goals in nine games, Esther signed a new contract with Gotham through 2027. On May 25, she scored in the 82nd minute of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup final against Tigres, burying the rebound after Itzel González stopped her penalty kick. Gotham won 1–0 to become the inaugural winners of the competition. She finished the season as the NWSL Golden Boot runner-up with 13 goals before winning her second NWSL Championship in the playoffs.

On 14 March 2026, Esther scored the opening goal of Gotham's season in a 1–0 win over Boston Legacy, coming on as a substitute to earn her 25th career NWSL league goal, the 35th player in the league to reach the milestone. On 26 June, scored scored a penalty in a 2–0 win over the Kansas City Current in the NWSL Challenge Cup, becoming the first NWSL player to score in three different finals. On 27 July, the club announced that Esther had agreed to a mutual contract termination as she took a temporary break from soccer for personal reasons. She left the club as its all-time top scorer in all competitions.

On 23 August 2026, Esther joined Saudi Women's Premier League club Al Qadsiah, signing a one-year deal with an option for an additional season.

Al Qadsiah FC

In August 2026, Al-Qadsiah signed Esther González, making her the first player to win the Women's World Cup to play in the Saudi Women's Premier League.

International career

Esther González played for the Spain U17 team at the 2009 U-17 European Championship, where Spain was the runner-up to Germany.

Esther made her senior international debut in March 2016, as a substitute in a 0–0 friendly draw with Romania in Mogoșoaia.

She scored five goals in Spain's 13–0 win over Azerbaijan in qualifying for the Euro 2022. She and her team reached the quarter-finals, where Spain lost 2–1 to eventual European champions England in overtime.

In Spain's opening match of the 2023 FIFA World Cup, she scored Spain's third goal in a 3–0 win over Costa Rica. This was the third goal in six minutes for the Spanish and was just their second group stage win at the World Cup.

On 10 June 2025, González was called up to the Spain squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025. On July 27, 2025, she started in the tournament's final as Spain finished runners up, losing 3–1 on penalties to England following a 1–1 draw.

Personal life

González is married to Estefanía Cruz. Cruz gave birth to their first baby on 6 January 2026. After moving to Saudi Arabia, González deleted all images of her family life from social media. Her move drew criticism from LGBTQ+ communities given same-sex relationships and sexual activity are illegal in Saudi Arabia.

Career statistics

Club

As of 27 July 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Levante 2009–10 Superliga Femenina 24431––275
2010–11 Superliga Femenina 23821––259
Total 471252––5214
Atlético Málaga 2011–12 Primera División 3412–––3412
Sporting de Huelva 2012–13 Primera División 2715–––2715
Atlético Madrid 2013–14 Primera División 251420––2714
2014–15 Primera División 281222––3014
2015–16 Primera División 29183241–3621
2016–17 Primera División 301530––3315
2017–18 Primera División 2683010–308
2018–19 Primera División 21133130–2714
Total 22010716581–225113
Levante 2019–20 Primera División 19010–10210
2020–21 Primera División 342930–213930
Total 5329400 0316030
Real Madrid 2021–22 Primera División 27143281103917
2022–23 Liga F 27161195103822
Total 543043176207739
Gotham FC 2023 NWSL 52––3183
2024 NWSL 2191 0–212410
2025 NWSL 23 13 – – 2 0 25 13
2026 NWSL 15 6 1 1 – – 16 7
Total 6430210 0727333
Career total 4382083111257123487229

International

As of match played 3 July 2025
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 201620
201700
201810
201930
202011
2021813
2022146
2023147
202422
202587
Total5336
Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each González goal.
List of international goals scored by Esther González
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.23 October 2020Estadio La Cartuja, Seville, Spain Czech Republic1–04–0UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying
2.18 February 2021ASK Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan Azerbaijan1–013–0
3.2–0
4.3–0
5.4–0
6.12–0
7.23 February 2021La Ciudad del Fútbol, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain Poland1–03–0
8.2–0
9.21 September 2021Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion, Budapest, Hungary Hungary1–07–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
10.2–0
11.25 November 2021Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain Faroe Islands1–012–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
12.5–0
13.7–0
14.10–0
15.25 June 2022Nuevo Colombino, Huelva, Spain Australia3–07–0Friendly
16.20 July 2022Falmer Stadium, Brighton and Hove, England England1–01–2UEFA Women's Euro 2022
17.2 September 2022La Ciudad del Fútbol, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain Hungary1–03–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
18.6 September 2022 Ukraine1–05–0
19.4–0
20.11 October 2022El Sadar Stadium, Pamplona, Spain United States2–02–0Friendly
21.16 February 2023Industree Group Stadium, Gosford, Australia Jamaica2–03–02023 Cup of Nations
22.22 February 2023McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia Czech Republic1–03–0
23.2–0
24.29 June 2023Estadio Román Suárez Puerta, Avilés, Spain Panama1–07–0Friendly
25.6–0
26.21 July 2023Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand Costa Rica3–03–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup
27.1 December 2023Estadio Municipal de Pasarón, Pontevedra, Spain Italy2–32–32023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League
28.5 April 2024Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium Belgium5–07–0UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying
29.7–0
30.4 April 2025Estádio Capital do Móvel, Paços de Ferreira, Portugal Portugal4–24–22025 UEFA Women's Nations League
31.8 April 2025Balaídos, Vigo, Spain Portugal7–07–1
32.30 May 2025Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium Belgium1–05–1
33.2–0
34.3 July 2025Stadion Wankdorf, Bern, Switzerland Portugal1–05–0UEFA Women's Euro 2025
35.4–0
36.7 July 2025Arena Thun, Thun, Switzerland Belgium3–26–2
37.11 July 2025Stadion Wankdorf, Bern, Switzerland Italy3–13–1

Honours

Atlético Madrid

Gotham FC

Spain U17

Spain

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Froh, Kani (18 June 2023). "Official: Esther leaves Real Madrid". Managing Madrid. SB Nation. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  2. ↑ Release, Gotham FC Communications-Press (23 August 2023). "Gotham FC signs World Cup champion Esther Gonzalez of Spain". NJ/NY Gotham FC. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Match Recap: Gotham FC Rallies Back from Two Goal Deficit to Tie Courage 3-3". NJ/NY Gotham FC. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  4. ↑ "Gotham FC Match Recap: Electrifying Home Debut for World Cup Champion Esther González with both goals in 2-0 victory". NJ/NY Gotham FC. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  5. ↑ "NWSL Championship score: NY/NJ Gotham FC win title as OL Reign lose final, Megan Rapinoe to early injury". CBS Sports. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "WC-winner Gonzalez leads Gotham past Thorns". ESPN.com. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Esther Makes NWSL History in Gotham FC's 5-1 Victory". National Women's Soccer League. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  8. ↑ "2024 NWSL Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  9. ↑ "Washington Spirit 1–1 NJ/NY Gotham FC". ESPN. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "NWSL top scorer Esther González extends deal with Gotham". ESPN. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  11. ↑ "Gotham FC Crowned Champions of Inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup". Gotham FC. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  12. ↑ "2025 NWSL Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Kassouf, Jeff (15 March 2026). "Boston Legacy make NWSL history but lose long-awaited opener". ESPN. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  14. ↑ "Gotham FC Spoils Boston Legacy FC's Inaugural Match with 1-0 Victory". Gotham FC. 14 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  15. ↑ OptaJack (27 June 2026). "3 - With her goal in Friday's Challenge Cup..." Bluesky. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Gotham FC, Esther González Agree to Mutual Contract Termination". Gotham FC. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "World Champion Esther González Bolsters Al Qadsiah Women's Attack". Al Qadsiah FC. 23 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "بعد تعاقد القادسية مع الإسبانية إستر غونزاليس.. الدوري السعودي يواصل استقطاب نجمات كأس العالم" [Following Al-Qadsiah's signing Esther Gonzalez, the Saudi league continues to attract World Cup stars..]. goal.com/ar/indivisa (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 24 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  19. ↑ Malinowski and Ribeyra top table UEFA.com
  20. ↑ "4 newcomers to the Spanish squad". Royal Spanish Football Federation. 5 March 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "PDominant Spain open World Cup with stylish win". RNZ. 23 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "OFFICIAL: Montse Tomé announces her squad for the European Championships in Switzerland". RFEF. 10 June 2025. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  23. 1 2 "England 1-1 Spain: Lionesses retain title with dramatic penalty victory as Chloe Kelly score winning kick". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  24. ↑ "Spanish Soccer Star Esther González And Her Wife Share Adorable First Photos Of Their Baby". Go Mag. Go Mag. 9 January 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Nicolao, Lorenzo (26 August 2026). "La futbolista española Esther González borra las fotos con su mujer y su hijo de redes tras firmar un lucrativo contrato en Arabia Saudí" [Spanish footballer Esther González erases photos with her wife and son from social media after signing lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  26. ↑ "Esther Gonzalez: Gay World Cup star's move to Saudi Arabian club attracts fan backlash". BBC Sport. 27 August 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers". USA Today. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  28. ↑ Dure, Beau (22 November 2025). "NWSL Championship: Washington Spirit v Gotham FC – live". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  29. ↑ "Gotham FC wins NWSL Challenge Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Current". Associated Press. 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  30. ↑ "Tigres UANL vs. Gotham FC 0 - 1". Soccerway. 24 May 2025.
  31. ↑ "Women's EURO 2025 top scorer: Esther González". uefa.com. 27 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.