Karol Bernal

Karol Bernal
Personal information
Full name Karol Esthefany Bernal Castañeda
Date of birth (2003-02-02) 2 February 2003 (age 23)
Place of birth Durango, Durango, Mexico
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 América
Number 4
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2026 C.F. Monterrey 128 (4)
2021–2022 → C.D. Guadalajara (loan) 48 (1)
2026– América 0 (0)
International career‡
2023– Mexico 6 (0)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  Mexico
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place2026 Santo DomingoTeam
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 July 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 2 March 2025

Karol Esthefany Bernal Castañeda (born 2 February 2003) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a center-back or left-back for Liga MX Femenil side Club América and the Mexico women's national football team. She has won the Liga MX Femenil with club C.F. Monterrey three times and one time with Liga MX Femenil club C.D. Guadalajara during her professional career.

Club career

Monterrey (2018–2026)

Bernal signed her first professional contract with Monterrey in 2018 at the age of 15. She made her professional debut with Monterrey on 19 August 2018 on a league match against Querétaro.

Loan to C.D. Guadalajara (2021–2022)

Bernal left Monterrey on a two-year loan to Chivas with no option to buy ahead of the Clausura 2021 tournament, as part of the transaction to transfer Andrea Sánchez from Chivas to Monterrey. With Chivas, Bernal made 48 appearances and scored one goal, helping the team win the Clausura 2022 league title and the 2022 Campeón de Campeonas championship.

On 25 November 2022, Monterrey announced that Bernal was returning to the club after her loan with Chivas ended.

Return to Monterrey and breakthrough (2023–2026)

After her return to Monterrey, Bernal immediately became a regular starter for Monterrey. Although her team was unable to win any championship in 2023, Bernal’s performances allowed her to be called to the Mexico women's national football team. In 2024, Monterrey was able to win back-to-back league championships, with Bernal being a key figured in the team’s defense. Even though Bernal was for the most part consistent in 2025, Monterrey had a disappointing campaign during that year. During the Clausura 2026 tournament, Monterrey returned to the spotlight under head-coach Amandine Miquel, reaching the final of the tournament but Bernal became mostly relegated to the bench due to injuries and technical decisions.

On 18 June 2026, Monterrey announced that after eight years, Bernal was leaving the club after her contract with the team concluded.

Club América (2026–present)

On 1 July 2026, Club América announced that Bernal was joining the club after her departure from Monterrey.

International career

Bernal has been part of the Mexico women's national team program since the U-15 level, having making appearances with the U-17 and U-20 national teams as well.

Bernal was called to the senior Mexico women's national football team for the first time In February 2023 as part of the Mexico squad for the 2023 Women's Revelations Cup. She made her debut with the senior national team coming as substitution on the first match of the 2023 Women's Revelations Cup against Nigeria.

Honours

Monterrey

Guadalajara

Mexico U23

References

  1. ↑ "Karol Esthefany Bernal Castañeda - Sitio Oficial del Club de Futbol Monterrey". www.rayados.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 Durango, Alejandro Blanco | El Sol de. "Duranguense deja Rayadas de Monterrey para defender los colores de Chivas". El Sol de Durango | Noticias Locales, Policiacas, sobre México, Durango y el Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "LIGA MX Femenil - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional - Estadistica - Karol Esthefany Bernal Castañeda". www.ligafemenil.mx. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Karol Bernal cambia de rayas y va a Chivas femenil". Diario AS (in Mexican Spanish). 29 December 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Sánchez, Antonio (26 November 2022). "Chivas Femenil anuncia la salida de Karol Bernal". Quadratin Jalisco (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Karo Bernal sale de Chivas Femenil y vuelve a Rayadas". Mediotiempo (in Spanish). 25 November 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Karol Bernal: "He debutado en la Selección Mayor, estoy muy contenta" | TUDN Fútbol | TUDN". www.tudn.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 "Rayadas hace oficial la salida de Karol Bernal tras ocho años vinculada al club". ABC Noticias (in Spanish). 16 June 2026. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Galindo, Felipe (9 September 2025). "Amelia Valverde deja de ser directora técnica de Rayadas". Telediario México (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Karol Bernal deja Rayadas tras nueve años y 137 partidos en Monterrey | Las Futbolistas" (in Spanish). 16 June 2026. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Rayadas anuncia la salida de Karol Bernal tras ocho años". MVS Noticias (in Spanish). 18 June 2026. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Futbolista duranguense, Karol Bernal es el nuevo refuerzo de América Femenil - El Sol de Durango". OEM (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Univision. "Selección Mexicana Femenil da convocatoria para enfrentar Revelations Cup". TUDN (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  14. ↑ OnceDiario. "Karol es la novedad". www.oncediario.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "La Selección Nacional de México Femenil debuta con triunfo en la primera edición del W Revelations Cup". miseleccion.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2023.