Mimi Alidou Bio
Marie-Yasmine “Mimi” Alidou d’Anjou (born April 28, 1995) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club Portland Thorns and the Canada national team. Standing 5 ft 3 in tall, she is known for her attacking instincts, intelligent movement off the ball, and ability to score in big matches across multiple European leagues before returning to North America.
Alidou built her reputation in Europe, spending time in France, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Austria, and Portugal, where she developed into one of the most dangerous midfielders in the Portuguese top flight. In 2025, she signed with the Portland Thorns, beginning a new chapter of her career in the NWSL while continuing to represent Canada on the international stage.
Early Life and Background
Marie-Yasmine “Mimi” Alidou d’Anjou was born in Montréal, Quebec, and raised in Saint-Hubert, Quebec. She grew up in a multicultural household with a Beninese father and a French Canadian mother, an upbringing that helped shape her adaptable outlook on and off the field. From an early age, she showed a clear passion for soccer, spending most of her youth career playing in the local Quebec system.
She played the majority of her youth soccer with CS St-Hubert and also had stints with FC St-Leonard, Lanaudiere Sud, and Varennes-St. Amable. At age 13, she joined the National High Performance Centre, where she spent a year sharpening her technical foundation. Later, she moved to Newark, New Jersey, to attend an American high school, gaining valuable exposure to a different style of play before returning to Canada for university.
Alidou later attended the Université du Québec à Montréal, where she played for the UQAM Citadins from 2013 to 2017. Her college career was decorated. In 2016, she was named RSEQ Player of the Week for Week 2, UQAM Athlete of the Year, an RSEQ First Team All-Star, and a U Sports Second Team All-Star, establishing herself as one of the top university players in the country.
Path to Professional Soccer
After completing her time at UQAM, Alidou transitioned directly into the professional ranks in 2017. She first represented Canada at the 2017 FISU Universiade Games, an experience that gave her a taste of international competition before she moved abroad. That same year, she signed her first professional contract with French club Olympique de Marseille, marking the beginning of a European journey that would take her across several top leagues.
Her early years in Europe were spent adapting to different football cultures and tactical systems. Stints at Linköpings FC in Sweden, Sporting Huelva in Spain, Klepp in Norway, and Sturm Graz in Austria helped her develop into a more complete midfielder. Each stop added a new layer to her game, preparing her for the breakthrough that would come in the Portuguese league with Famalicão and later Benfica.
Mimi Alidou Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Alidou began her senior career in 2017 with Olympique de Marseille in France, where she adjusted to the demands of professional football in a competitive European environment. A year later, she moved to Sweden to play for Linköpings FC, one of the country’s top clubs, gaining experience in a league known for its tactical discipline and physical play.
In 2019, she joined Sporting de Huelva in Spain, continuing her path through some of Europe’s strongest women’s leagues. She then spent the 2020–2021 season with Klepp in Norway, followed by a brief spell at Sturm Graz in Austria in 2022. These early years gave her a broad football education and laid the groundwork for her breakout performances in Portugal.
Famalicão Breakthrough (2022–2023)
In 2022, Alidou signed with Famalicão in Portugal’s top flight, where her career truly accelerated. She wasted no time making an impact, earning the league’s Player of the Month award in both February and March. Her form helped Famalicão capture their first Taça de Portugal, a milestone moment for both the club and the player.
Her performances in Portugal quickly attracted attention from larger clubs. Over the course of her time at Famalicão, she established herself as one of the most consistent attacking midfielders in the league, combining goal-scoring threat with creative passing. That reputation set the stage for a high-profile move to one of Portugal’s most decorated clubs.
Benfica Era (2023–2025)
In the summer of 2023, Alidou signed with Benfica, stepping into one of the most competitive squads in Portuguese women’s football. She made an immediate impact, scoring a brace in a UEFA Women’s Champions League match against Cypriot club Apollon on October 11, 2023. Her goals in European competition helped signal her arrival on the continental stage.
During her first season with Benfica, Alidou played a key role in a historic campaign. The club won all four domestic competitions, completing a rare quadruple. Benfica also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time in the club’s history, where they were eliminated by Olympique Lyon. It marked the first time a Portuguese club had advanced to the final eight of the competition. Alidou finished the season as Benfica’s leading goal scorer, netting 26 goals across all competitions, including 9 in the Champions League and 6 in the Portuguese league. Over her time at the club, she won six trophies, including two league and cup doubles.
Portland Thorns Era (2025–Present)
In 2025, Alidou signed with NWSL club Portland Thorns, inking a two-year deal with a club option through 2027. The move brought her back to North America and added an experienced European winner to the Thorns’ midfield. She made her club debut on April 11, 2025, coming on as a second-half substitute for Caiya Hanks in a win over the Utah Royals.
She scored her first NWSL goal on April 23, helping the Thorns beat NJ/NY Gotham FC 4–1. The quick adaptation showed that her scoring touch from Europe was translating to the NWSL, giving Portland another dangerous attacking option heading into the heart of the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Alidou is best known for her movement in the final third, her ability to arrive late into the box, and her composure in front of goal. She combines technical quality with sharp decision-making, allowing her to link midfield and attack effectively. Her European experience has also made her tactically flexible, capable of playing across multiple midfield roles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her standout moments, Alidou scored a brace in the UEFA Women’s Champions League against Apollon in 2023, helped Benfica reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time, and finished as the club’s top scorer with 26 goals in her debut season. She also scored a hat trick in a 7-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in the 2025 Pinatar Cup, announcing herself on the international stage.
Mimi Alidou Career Wins
Across her time in Europe, Alidou built an impressive trophy collection, particularly during her spell with Benfica. With Famalicão, she won the Taça de Portugal, and with Benfica, she claimed six trophies, including two league and cup doubles as part of a historic quadruple-winning season.
Benfica Highlights
Alidou’s most decorated period came at Benfica, where she won six trophies over two seasons. She played a central role in the club’s quadruple-winning campaign in her first year, including the domestic league and cup titles. Her 26 goals across all competitions made her the team’s leading scorer that season, and her nine Champions League goals were central to Benfica’s historic run to the quarter-finals.
Other Wins & Performances
Before Benfica, Alidou helped Famalicão win their first-ever Taça de Portugal, a landmark achievement for the club. Her early career across France, Sweden, Spain, Norway, and Austria added valuable experience, even if silverware was limited in those stops.
Mimi Alidou Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Alidou was raised in a bicultural household, with a Beninese father and a French Canadian mother. Growing up in Montréal and Saint-Hubert, Quebec, she was surrounded by a strong family environment that supported her early development in soccer and encouraged her move through the Canadian youth system.
Personal Life
Alidou is known publicly by her nickname “Mimi.” Her multicultural background has played a significant role in shaping her identity as a player representing Canada on the international stage.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks a fresh start for Alidou with the Portland Thorns in the NWSL. After adjusting during the opening weeks, she made her debut on April 11 against the Utah Royals and quickly found the back of the net with her first NWSL goal on April 23 in a 4-1 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC. Her early contributions have given the Thorns an additional scoring threat in midfield.
Internationally, 2025 has also been a strong year. On February 25, 2025, she scored a hat trick in a 7-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in the 2025 Pinatar Cup, further cementing her place in the Canadian setup. With the NWSL season still unfolding and Canada competing in upcoming fixtures, Alidou’s role with both club and country is expected to keep growing.