Giovana Canali

Giovana Canali (born February 12, 2006) is a Brazilian college soccer player who plays as a forward for the Virginia Cavaliers. She previously played for the Miami Hurricanes.

Early life

Originally from Fortaleza, Canali began playing football with her brother and other boys when she was two. At school, she made the boys' futsal team when she was six, and in fourth grade, she created a girls' team when other parents did not want her to keep playing with boys. She also played high school soccer at West Boca Raton Community High School, receiving all-county honors all four years and scoring 52 goals in 31 games over her last two seasons.

College career

Canali scored a team-leading 9 goals in 17 appearances for the Miami Hurricanes in her freshman season in 2024. She was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference all-freshman team and was named third-team All-ACC, making her Miami's first all-conference player in six years.

International career

Canali was first called up to the Brazil under-20 team in July 2023, scoring in her friendly debut against Belgium in December of the same year. She made the squad for the 2024 South American Under-20 Women's Football Championship, appearing in six games as Brazil won the competition.

Honors and awards

Brazil U-20

South American U-20 Women's Championship: 2024

Individual Third-team All-ACC: 2024