The women's team of Rayo Vallecano Football Club has introduced its new player, Milene Domingues, a Brazilian footballer also known as Ronaldinha due to her marriage to Ronaldo. In September 2020, Pernille Harder's transfer to Chelsea set a new world record in women's soccer transfers, surpassing the record set by Milene Domingues 18 years earlier. Since then, the record has been broken multiple times, with notable transfers including Keira Walsh to Barcelona in 2022, Mayra Ramirez to Chelsea in 2024, and Racheal Kundananji to Bay FC in 2024.
During the early 2000s, women's soccer was still evolving, with few professional players and limited financial rewards. Rayo Vallecano's decision to pay a record fee for Milene Domingues was influenced by her association with Ronaldo, her husband, which garnered significant attention.
Milene Domingues, born in 1979 in São Paolo, began playing soccer at a young age and gained fame for her exceptional ball-juggling skills. Her talent led to a world record of 55,187 keepie-uppies and a nickname 'la rainha das embaixadinhas' (the juggling queen).
Her relationship with Ronaldo, a prominent soccer player, further elevated her profile. Following Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid, Milene joined Rayo Vallecano, setting a world record transfer fee in women's soccer. Despite restrictions preventing her from playing competitive matches initially, she continued to train and eventually joined other Spanish clubs.
However, her career was cut short by a knee injury in 2009. Milene's story sheds light on the early challenges and opportunities in women's soccer, highlighting the evolving landscape of the sport and the impact of individual profiles on player transfers and recognition.
