Érika

For other uses, see Erika.

Érika

Personal information
Full name	Érika Cristiano dos Santos
Date of birth	(1988-02-04) 4 February 1988
Place of birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
	Santos
2009	FC Gold Pride	7	(0)
2009–2011	Santos	5	(6)
National team‡
	Brazil U-20
	Brazil
Honours Competitor for Brazil Olympic Games – Women's Football Silver 2008 Beijing Team Competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 03:20, 21 October 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 03:20, 21 October 2009 (UTC)

Érika Cristiano dos Santos (born 4 February 1988 in São Paulo), commonly known as Érika, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a defender for Santos and the Brazilian Women's National Team.

Before being drafted by FC Gold Pride in the 2008 WPS International Draft, Érika was a member of Santos FC. Despite appearing in 7 games for FC Gold Pride, Érika was deemed surplus to requirements at season's close by Albertin Montoya.

Érika has represented Brazil at both the U-20 and senior international levels.

Controversy

As part of the 2011 Brazilian world cup team, Erika was involved in a controversial play near the end of Brazil's game with the United States. At 115th minute of the game, with only a few minutes left in the game, Erika suddenly dropped to the field in apparent agony from a back spasm. After being attended to and being removed from the field on a stretcher, she suddenly jumped up and began running, clutching her back. This created controversy among sports analysts regarding the validity of her injury, with some assuming the injury was "faked" to quench a US rally. As a result of the delay, the referee, Jacqui Melksham, gave Erika a yellow card and added 3 minutes to the game as additional time, during which the US scored the game-tying goal, and went on to win the game on penalty kicks.

Career statistics

Club career

Team	Season	League	Domestic League					Domestic Playoffs					Total
			Apps	Starts	Minutes	Goals	Assists	Apps	Starts	Minutes	Goals	Assists	Apps	Starts	Minutes	Goals	Assists
		Total
FC Gold Pride	2009	WPS	7	5	423	0	0	–	–	–	–	–	7	5	423	0	0
		Total	7	5	423	0	0	–	–	–	–	–	7	5	423	0	0
Santos	2009	Copa do Brasil	5			6							5			6
		Total	5			6							5			6
Career Total		–	12	5	423	6	0	–	–	–	–	–	12	5	423	6	0

External links

• Érika – FIFA competition record
• 2008 Olympics player profile
• Santos FC player profile
• Women's Professional Soccer player profile