Bruna Santos Nhaia Bio
Bruna Santos Nhaia, popularly known as Bruninha, is a Brazilian professional footballer born on June 16, 2002, in Castro, Paraná, Brazil. Standing 1.57 meters tall, she plays as a right back for Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and represents the Brazil national team. She began her senior career in 2018 with Chapecoense and has since built her reputation as one of the promising defenders in South American women’s football.
Known for her composure on the ball, defensive sharpness, and attacking contributions from the back, Bruninha has developed into a key figure for both club and country. She gained international recognition as captain of Brazil at the 2022 U-20 World Cup and later played a role in Gotham FC’s NWSL Championship triumphs in 2023 and 2025. Her consistent performances and trophy-winning pedigree have established her as a rising star in the global game.
Early Life and Background
Bruna Santos Nhaia was born on June 16, 2002, in Castro, a municipality in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná. She grew up in a country where football is deeply embedded in daily life, and she began showing an early interest in the sport. Her journey into organized football started after a successful trial with Chapecoense’s youth setup in 2016, when she was just fourteen years old.
Coming through a youth program at one of Brazil’s traditional clubs gave Bruninha a strong technical foundation. The Chapecoense academy is known for producing technically sharp players, and the environment allowed her to develop the defensive awareness and attacking instincts that define her game today. She progressed steadily through the youth ranks, balancing her education with the demands of competitive club football.
Path to Soccer
Bruninha made her senior debut for Chapecoense in 2018 at the age of sixteen, becoming one of the youngest players to feature for the club’s first team. Although she returned to the under-18 level the following year, the experience provided a valuable introduction to professional football. In 2019, she moved to Internacional, another powerhouse of Brazilian football, where she continued her development in a highly competitive environment.
During the 2020 season, Bruninha broke into Internacional’s first team and announced herself with a debut goal in a 3–0 away win over Vitória on September 5, 2020. That performance marked her arrival as a player to watch in Brazilian football. In February 2021, she transferred to Santos FC, where her strong showings across twenty-four appearances earned her the 2021 Bola de Prata, a prestigious individual award recognizing the best players in the Brazilian women’s top flight.
Bruna Santos Nhaia Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Bruninha’s professional career began in 2018 with Chapecoense, where she made her senior debut before being eased back into the under-18 setup the following year. Her time at Chapecoense gave her first-team exposure at a young age, and the club’s coaching staff played a key role in shaping her understanding of the right back position.
In 2019, she joined Internacional, and by 2020 she had become a regular in the senior squad. Her debut goal against Vitória was a defining moment, signaling her readiness to compete at the highest level of Brazilian football. These early years laid the groundwork for her subsequent transfer to one of Brazil’s most historic clubs.
Santos FC (2021–2022)
Bruninha moved to Santos FC in February 2021, where she quickly established herself as a regular starter. She made twenty-four appearances for the club, contributing defensively while also showing her ability to support attacks down the right flank. Her consistency throughout the season caught the attention of coaches and supporters alike.
At the end of the 2021 campaign, Bruninha was awarded the Bola de Prata in recognition of her outstanding performances. The award cemented her status as one of the top defenders in the Brazilian women’s league and attracted interest from clubs abroad. By the summer of 2022, she was on the verge of an international move.
Gotham FC Era (2022–Present)
On August 23, 2022, Santos transferred Bruninha to NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League for an undisclosed fee. She made one appearance in her debut season and adjusted to the pace and physicality of the American league. In 2023, she featured in seventeen league matches as Gotham finished sixth in the regular season standings.
On May 21, 2023, Bruninha scored her first NWSL goal, becoming the youngest goal scorer in Gotham FC history at twenty years of age. That same month, she was named NWSL Player of the Week and earned a place in the Team of the Month for her defensive and attacking contributions. She then played every minute of Gotham’s playoff run, providing a crucial assist in the quarterfinal against the North Carolina Courage as the club conceded only one goal across three postseason matches.
Gotham FC lifted the 2023 NWSL Championship trophy on November 11, 2023, marking Bruninha’s first major honor abroad. In November 2025, she produced a stepover assist to Rose Lavelle in the 2025 NWSL Championship final, a 1–0 win over the Washington Spirit that delivered a second league title. She is currently under contract with Gotham FC through the 2027 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bruninha is a right-footed defender who typically operates on the right side of a back four, though she is comfortable filling in on the opposite flank when needed. Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós has praised her strong one-on-one defending, ability to read the game, and dangerous contributions in the attacking third. Her technical quality and tactical intelligence make her a complete modern fullback.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature achievements, Bruninha captained Brazil at the 2022 U-20 World Cup, where the team finished third. She also scored on her NWSL debut season to become the youngest goal scorer in Gotham FC history and won NWSL Championships in 2023 and 2025, including a decisive assist in the latter final.
Bruna Santos Nhaia Career Wins
Bruninha’s trophy cabinet already includes major honors at club and youth international level. She won the 2021 Bola de Prata with Santos, the 2023 NWSL Championship with Gotham FC, and the 2025 NWSL Championship, also with Gotham FC. She also lifted the 2022 South American U-20 Championship with Brazil.
Gotham FC Highlights
Bruninha joined Gotham FC in August 2022 and quickly became an important part of the squad. Her first NWSL goal came on May 21, 2023, when she became the youngest goal scorer in club history. She played every minute of the 2023 playoff run as Gotham claimed the NWSL Championship, and in 2025 she assisted Rose Lavelle for the only goal in the NWSL Championship final against the Washington Spirit.
Other Wins and Performances
During her time at Santos FC, Bruninha appeared in twenty-four matches and won the 2021 Bola de Prata as one of the league’s standout performers. At youth international level, she won the 2022 South American U-20 Championship and captained Brazil to a third-place finish at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Bruna Santos Nhaia Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bruninha was born and raised in Castro, Paraná, in southern Brazil. Specific details about her parents and siblings are not publicly documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Bruninha is known publicly for her football career and is active on social media, where she shares insights into her professional journey. She is not publicly known to be married, and there are no confirmed reports of children. She currently resides in the United States while playing for Gotham FC.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a landmark year for Bruninha and Gotham FC. She featured regularly for the club throughout the campaign, contributing both defensively and in the attacking third. Her consistency helped Gotham reach the NWSL Championship final, where she produced a stepover assist to Rose Lavelle for the lone goal in a 1–0 victory over the Washington Spirit on November 2025, securing the club’s second NWSL title.
Beyond the final, Bruninha played a key role throughout Gotham’s playoff push, using her reading of the game and one-on-one defending to anchor the back line. Her partnership with the coaching staff and teammates continued to grow, and her ability to contribute assists from the right back position made her a dual threat on the field.
Heading into the remainder of her contract, which runs through the 2027 season, Bruninha remains a central figure in Gotham FC’s plans. With two NWSL Championships already to her name and a senior international career with Brazil ongoing, she is widely regarded as one of the top young right backs in the global game.