Ary Borges honoured for 50 games with Brazil

Ary Borges honoured for 50 games with Brazil

Midfielder Ary Borges was honored on Monday afternoon (14) for reaching 50 appearances for the Brazil National Team. She hit the milestone in the rout over South Korea last Saturday (11), in Brazil’s FIFA Series opener, and received a commemorative jersey with the number 50 from head coach Arthur Elias.

A starter in the 5-1 win, the São Luís, Maranhão native captained the team in the match and also opened the scoring. In an interview with CBF TV, she celebrated the achievement and revealed that the gift will be framed and placed on a wall in her home.

“It was always a dream to wear the Brazil National Team jersey and one day make my debut, but reaching the mark of 50 matches is something indescribable and something that will stay in my history. It was a very special game because I reached 50 appearances, which I didn’t know, because I was captain, scored a goal and, most importantly, came away with the win. This jersey will definitely go in a frame in my living room, because wearing this jersey is truly very special.”

Ary Borges was honored with a commemorative jersey marking her 50 appearances for the Brazil National TeamCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/CBF

After finding the net at the end of the first half, the 26-year-old celebrated the goal by recreating the traditional gesture of someone about to experience one of life’s greatest joys: becoming a mother. Her wife, Gabriela, is pregnant with a girl, and this stage of her life off the field, with the anticipation of her daughter’s birth, and on the field, with call-ups to the Seleção and her move to Angel City, her new club in the United States, has been a special one for Ary.

“I’m living through a very special moment, as an athlete and in my personal life too, together with my family. It’s been a special time for me, my wife and our relatives; everything has been going right. I joined a new club this year, the club is doing well and, as a result, I’m wearing the Brazil National Team jersey again. Now we’re living a moment of great joy and excitement for the arrival of our little girl.”

Ary Borges paid tribute to her future daughter with the goal she scored against South Korea, in the match in which she reached 50 appearances for the Brazil National TeamCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/CBF

History with the Senior National Team

Ary Borges made her debut for Brazil in a 3-1 win over Argentina on September 17, 2021, in Campina Grande (Paraíba). Since then, she has won the 2022 and 2025 Copa América titles, but she highlights last year’s trophy as the most important because it marked her return to the Seleção after a string of injuries and the missed opportunity to compete at the Paris Olympic Games, where Brazil won the silver medal.

“It was a very important moment for me. I had gone a long time without being called up to the National Team. The previous year had been difficult because I got injured and missed out on the fight for a place at the Olympics, which was a very special moment for the Brazil National Team. I believed our team could make history, and I would have liked to have been there, but I was cheering, as I always do when I’m not here. Deep down in my heart, I have that feeling of rooting for the National Team.”

In her first Women’s World Cup match, Ary Borges scored three goals in Brazil’s 4-0 win over Panama in the team’s opening match of the 2023 tournamentCredits: Thais Magalhães/CBF

The memory she holds dearest with the National Team is her performance in her World Cup debut, the 4-0 rout of Panama on July 24, 2023, when she scored three goals.

“It was already special because it was my World Cup debut. But I never imagined I would score three goals in the match, provide an assist, and that we would win too. That is my most special memory: I have the hat-trick ball, the player of the match award is displayed on the wall at home, and I’ve also kept the jersey. It’s the most special day I’ve had with the National Team.”

Scorer of three goals, Ary Borges with the player of the match award after the game against Panama at the 2023 Women’s World CupCredits: Brendon Thorne - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Relationship with Arthur Elias

Ary has known coach Arthur Elias since her days at Centro Olímpico, where she played between 2015 and 2016 and which also featured names such as Debinha, Gabi Nunes, Tamires and Luana Bertolucci. Still very young, she used to talk with her teammates about the chance to be a ball girl at the matches of the team coached by her future Seleção manager and later her nemesis in Corinthians vs. Palmeiras clashes — she played for Palmeiras from 2020 to 2022, during a period of Corinthians dominance.

“He’s someone I have very special affection for. Unfortunately, I played against him a lot at club level, and he won a lot, but today I’m happy to work with him in the National Team because of the respect he has in the sport. I think he’s the most successful coach we have in Brazil, and I was very happy when he joined the National Team, because he deserved the opportunity to lead Brazil. I’m very happy to be living this moment alongside him and other girls I’ve known for a long time.”

Ary Borges celebrates winning the 2022 Copa AméricaCredits: Thais Magalhães/CBF

Brazil in the FIFA Series

The Seleção still has two more matches in this call-up window: Zambia on Tuesday (14) and Canada on Saturday (18), both at 9:30 p.m. (local time). According to Ary, the goal is to continue preparations for the 2027 World Cup, with two matches against different footballing styles, and to win the tournament title.

“This call-up is for us to prepare for our main goal, which is the World Cup. I’m happy for the chance to play in competitions, because sometimes we only have matches and can’t arrange friendlies, for example, against European national teams, which always have competitions. We’re happy to play against different teams and different styles, and like in any competition, with the spirit Arthur brings as part of our identity, we always play to win, and our goal on the final day is to lift the trophy at home.”

Ary Borges with the 2025 Copa América championship trophyCredits: Lívia Vilas Boas/CBF

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.