Maria Farrugia

Maria Farrugia (born 9 January 2001) is a Maltese footballer who plays as a forward for Bristol City in the Women's Super League 2 and for the Malta women's national team.

Club career Growing up on the island of Gozo, Farrugia began playing football at the age of four. She would play on boys' teams until the U15 level. At the age of 11, she was selected to join the Malta Football Association national youth teams, having to take the ferry to commute from Gozo to the main island.

After graduating from the National Sport School, Malta, she moved to the UK, where she began training with Sunderland AFC's Foundation of Light. In 2019, she signed with Sunderland AFC Ladies, making her debut with the club in mid-February 2019.

In July 2021, she signed a one-year extension with Sunderland. She was named the FA Women's Championship Player of the Week for the first week of the 2021–22 season.

After departing Sunderland at the end of the 2021–22 season, Farrugia joined Durham in August 2022.

At the end of June 2023, Lewes FC Women announced that she would be joining their team. She won the league goal of the month for January 2024, as well as the player of the month for March 2024 with Lewes FC Women.

On 19 August 2024, Farrugia was announced at Sheffield United. Farrugia shortly after won both the player of the month and the goal of the month for October 2024 with Sheffield United. She also won the goal of the month for November 2024. Farrugia's goal of the month for October 2024 against Bristol City ended up being the goal of the season. She was nominated for the 2024-25 Women's Championship Player of the Season award.

On 22 July 2025, it was announced that Farrugia had signed a two-year contract with Women's Super League 2 side Bristol City.

International career Farrugia has been capped for the Malta national team, making her debut in 2019.

International goals No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 7 November 2019 Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 1–0 1–1 UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying 2. 21 September 2021 1–2 2–2 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification 3. 6 September 2022 Camp FSCG, Podgorica, Montenegro 1–0 2–0 4. 7 April 2023 Sportland Arena, Tallinn, Estonia 2–1 2–1 Friendly 5. 27 October 2023 Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 4–0 5–0 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League 6. 5 December 2023 2–1 2–1 7. 4 June 2024 Bosnia and Herzegovina FA Training Centre, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–0 1–2 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying 8. 16 July 2024 Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal 1–1 1–3 9. 4 April 2025 Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia 1–0 3–2 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League 10. 3–0 11. 28 November 2025 Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 3–2 3–2 Friendly 12. 7 March 2026 1–2 1–4 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification 13. 18 April 2026 1–1 2–4