Zoe Noel Matthews Bio
Zoe Noel Matthews is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder and defender. She began her professional career with the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 2024 and is currently on loan at Campeonato Nacional Feminino club Benfica. Born in 2007, Matthews has been regarded as one of the most promising young players in American soccer, having already represented the United States at the youth international level.
Early Life and Background
Zoe Noel Matthews was born on May 25, 2007, in Southlake, Texas. She is the daughter of Jason Matthews and Angie Matthews. She grew up in the Southlake area and attended Carroll Senior High School, where she quickly became one of the most talked-about young talents in Texas high school soccer. Standing 6 ft 2 in tall, Matthews has the physical profile of a modern central defender combined with the technical skills of an attacking midfielder.
As a freshman in 2022, Matthews led the Carroll Senior High School Dragons to the UIL Class 6A state championship, scoring a goal and adding an assist in the final, a 4–0 victory in which teammate Kennedy Fuller recorded a hat trick. The following season she tallied 22 goals and 26 assists as a sophomore and was recognized as an All-American by United Soccer Coaches in 2023. Before going pro, she had committed to play college soccer for the LSU Tigers.
Path to Professional Soccer
Matthews developed her game at the club level with Solar SC and Legends SC of the ECNL. She won the ECNL under-14 national title with Solar SC in 2021 and finished as runner-up for the under-17 title with Legends FC in 2024. Along the way she earned all-conference honors twice and trained with elite competition, including being mentored by North Carolina Courage midfielder Brianna Pinto through the program Voice in Sport.
Her rapid rise brought international opportunities. In 2022, she trained with the United States under-15 and under-16 national teams and was called up by Jamaica’s senior head coach Lorne Donaldson at age 15. She went on to play a friendly tournament with the United States under-16s in 2023, scoring against hosts France and starting in the final alongside high school teammate Kennedy Fuller. She later trained with the U.S. under-18 and under-19 squads and joined a development camp in January 2026 that trained alongside the senior team.
Zoe Noel Matthews Career
Early Career (2024)
The Houston Dash announced on October 11, 2024, that they had signed Zoe Noel Matthews to her first professional contract, a deal running through 2026, making her one of the youngest professional signees in NWSL history. Seven days after the announcement, she made her professional debut against the Seattle Reign, coming on as an 85th-minute substitute for Sarah Puntigam in a 2–1 defeat. She entered the record books that night as the youngest player in Houston Dash history and the youngest African American to play in the NWSL.
Houston Dash Era (2024–2025)
Matthews spent the bulk of her first professional season with the Houston Dash learning the demands of senior football. Her appearances with the senior side were limited, and on August 20, 2025, the Dash sent her on loan to newly promoted Liga F side Dux Logroño for the remainder of the season. She moved to Spain alongside Dash teammate Rebeca.
Dux Logroño Loan (2025)
Matthews made her Dux Logroño debut on September 6, 2025, starting in a 1–0 loss to Real Sociedad. That match marked her first professional start. She went on to make nine appearances for the Spanish club before the loan concluded after half a season, gaining valuable experience in one of Europe’s top women’s leagues.
Benfica Move (2026–Present)
On February 2, 2026, Matthews moved to Portuguese champions Benfica on a loan for the rest of the season that included a purchase option. Benfica immediately made the deal permanent, signing Matthews to a three-year contract that runs through the summer of 2029. The move cemented her status as one of the top young American exports in the global game.
Playing Style and Strengths
Matthews combines the frame and aerial ability of a central defender with the vision and passing range of an attacking midfielder. Her height allows her to dominate duels in the air, while her upbringing as an attacking midfielder gives her comfort on the ball and the ability to step into buildup play from deep positions. Coaches have praised her tactical intelligence, two-footed distribution, and willingness to take on responsibility at a young age.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her standout moments, Matthews led her high school team to a UIL Class 6A state championship as a freshman, became the youngest African American to play in the NWSL, and lifted the ECNL under-14 national title with Solar SC. Her 2026 transfer to Benfica represented a major milestone, securing her a long-term contract at one of Europe’s historic clubs.
Zoe Noel Matthews Career Wins
Matthews has accumulated several verified team and tournament honors at the youth and senior levels. Her titles include a UIL Class 6A state championship with Carroll Senior High School in 2022, the ECNL under-14 national championship with Solar SC in 2021, and a league title with Benfica in Portugal.
Youth and High School Highlights
Matthews captured her first major title at the high school level in 2022, starring for Carroll Senior High School in the UIL Class 6A state final. She added an ECNL under-14 national title with Solar SC in 2021 and later finished as a runner-up for the ECNL under-17 national championship with Legends FC in 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Matthews represented the United States at the under-16, under-18, and under-19 levels and was called into a senior development camp in 2026. Her senior honors include the Campeonato Nacional Feminino title won with Benfica following her permanent transfer in February 2026.
Zoe Noel Matthews Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Zoe Noel Matthews is the daughter of Jason Matthews and Angie Matthews. She grew up in Southlake, Texas, in a supportive family environment that allowed her to pursue elite-level youth soccer from an early age. Her development was also shaped by mentors outside her family, including North Carolina Courage midfielder Brianna Pinto, who guided her through the Voice in Sport program.
Personal Life
Matthews currently resides in Southlake, Texas, when not on club duty abroad. As of the latest available records, she is unmarried and has no publicly confirmed spouse or children. She continues to focus on her professional career with Benfica and the broader goals of her long-term contract with the Portuguese club.
2025 Season Performance
Matthews’ 2025 season was defined by her move abroad to Liga F. After limited first-team minutes with the Houston Dash early in the year, she was loaned to newly promoted Spanish side Dux Logroño on August 20, 2025. She made her debut for the club on September 6, 2025, starting in a 1–0 loss to Real Sociedad, and went on to register nine appearances across the first half of the Spanish season.
The loan gave Matthews regular senior minutes in a top European league and exposed her to a higher tactical and physical tempo than she had faced in the NWSL. Her performances in Spain reportedly convinced Benfica of her readiness for a top-flight European environment, opening the door to her February 2026 transfer to Portugal.
Heading into the rest of the 2025–2026 campaign, Matthews carries strong momentum after completing her loan at Dux Logroño and securing a long-term home at Benfica. With a contract through 2029 and continued involvement in U.S. youth national team camps, she remains one of the most closely watched young defenders and midfielders in the women’s game.