Mapi León facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mapi León

León in 2024
Personal information
Full name	María Pilar León Cebrián
Date of birth	(1995-06-13) 13 June 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth	Zaragoza, Spain
Height	1.69 m
Playing position	Left-back, centre-back
Club information
Current club	Barcelona
Number	4
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2009–2011	Prainsa Zaragoza B
2011–2013	Prainsa Zaragoza	64	(6)
2013–2014	Espanyol	30	(4)
2014–2017	Atlético Madrid	84	(4)
2017–	Barcelona	243	(18)
National team‡
2016–2022	Spain	54	(1)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 October 2024 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 October 2022 (UTC)

María Pilar León Cebrián (; born 13 June 1995), known as Mapi León, is a Spanish professional footballer. She plays as a defender for Liga F club Barcelona. She also played for the Spain national team.

Mapi León started her career with her hometown club, Prainsa Zaragoza. She then moved to Espanyol and Atlético Madrid. At Atlético, her coach helped her change from a left-back to a center-back. While at Atlético, León won her first league title and the Copa de la Reina.

In 2017, León made history by becoming the first player in Spanish women's football to be transferred for a fee. She joined Barcelona from Atlético Madrid for 50,000 euros. With Barcelona, she has won many titles. These include four Copas de la Reina, three league titles, and two Supercopa Femenina. She has also played in three Champions League finals. She won the 2021 Champions League. This win was part of the club's first ever treble, meaning they won three major titles in one season.

León played for the Spanish national team from 2016 to 2022. She made her debut in 2016 during qualifiers for the 2017 UEFA Women's Euro. She played in three big international tournaments for Spain. These were the 2017 UEFA Women's Euro, the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, and the 2022 UEFA Women's Euro. In 2022, she decided not to play for the Spanish National Team anymore. This was because she felt the conditions were unfair.

Early Life and Interests

María Pilar León Cebrián was born on June 13, 1995. Her parents are Javier and Pilar. She grew up with her older brother in La Almozara, a part of Zaragoza.

León started playing volleyball when she was seven. She also played many other sports, like baseball. Later, she played futsal for a local team called Gran Vía. She played as a winger in futsal. Around this time, she was offered a scholarship to an art school. However, she chose to focus on football instead.

A former director from Zaragoza CFF, David Magaña, first saw Mapi playing football. He noticed her and her brother Javi at a Carrefour supermarket. She began training with the club when she was 11 years old.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Zaragoza (2011–2013)

Mapi León played for the B team of Prainsa Zaragoza for two years. She then made her debut in the Primera División at age 16. Her first match with Zaragoza was against Barcelona.

In 2013, Zaragoza reached the final of the Copa de la Reina. They played against FC Barcelona, which would later become León's team. In her last game with Zaragoza, León started the final. Zaragoza lost 4–0 to Barcelona. Barcelona won their first ever domestic double that day.

Time at Espanyol (2013–2014)

At 18, León joined RCD Espanyol in 2013. She played there for only one season. During this time, she started getting called up to the senior national team. She also caught the eye of Atlético Madrid. Atlético had finished third in the league in the 2012–13 season.

Playing for Atlético Madrid (2014–2017)

In 2014, León joined Atlético Madrid. In her first season, Atlético finished second in the league. They were behind Barcelona. This meant both Atlético and León would play in the UEFA Women's Champions League. In 2015, León played her first UWCL match against Zorky Krasnogorsk from Russia. They lost the first game 2–0. Atlético won the next game 3–0 to win the tie. However, they lost in the Round of 16 to Lyon with a total score of 9–1.

While at Atlético, León changed her playing position. She moved from a left-back to a centre-back. This change happened under the guidance of coach Ángel Villacampa. León won her first league title in the 2016–17 season. Atlético beat Real Sociedad on the last day of the season. Her great performances that season earned her a spot in the league's best team. This also made FC Barcelona interested in her.

In the summer of 2017, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid had long talks about León's transfer. Before her move to Barcelona, she trained separately from her team. She also became ill during contract discussions. In a documentary, León said Atlético thought she was faking her illness. They believed she was trying to force a move to Barcelona.

Joining Barcelona (2017–present)

On August 24, 2017, Mapi León officially joined Barcelona. She was their sixth new player for the 2017–18 season. She still had one year left on her contract with Atlético Madrid. Barcelona paid €50,000 for her. This made her the first player in Spanish women's football history to be transferred for a fee.

In her first season with Barcelona, she won the 2018 Copa de la Reina. This was her first title with the club. León helped her team keep a clean sheet for 120 minutes against her old club, Atlético Madrid. Barcelona won the match with a goal late in extra time.

León with Barcelona during the 2019 UEFA Women's Champions League Final

In October 2018, León scored her first ever Champions League goal. It was in the Round of 16 against Glasgow City. In 2019, León played in her first Champions League Final against Lyon. Barcelona let in four goals in the first 30 minutes. They lost 1–4 to the strong European team. After the Champions League, León signed a new contract with Barcelona for three more years until 2022.

In 2020, León was nominated for the UEFA Women's Team of the Year. This was a first for her career.

On January 6, 2021, León started in the first official match played by women's teams at the Camp Nou. She helped set up Barcelona's fifth and final goal. One of her shots bounced off Ana-Maria Crnogorčević and went into the net. Crnogorčević said the goal should be credited to León. Later that month, she played in the 2020–21 Supercopa Femenina. Barcelona lost on penalties to their rivals, Atlético Madrid. León spoke out about the refereeing. She felt the Royal Spanish Football Federation should use video-assistant refereeing (VAR) in the women's competition, just like in the men's.

In March 2021, she faced a suspension and a fine. This was after she spoke about the quality of refereeing in the Primera Iberdrola. She had received a controversial red card against Real Madrid. Barcelona appealed the decision. León was able to play against Levante in their next league match. Spain's football union supported León. They said the suspension tried to limit her freedom of speech. The next month, she played her 100th league game for Barcelona against UD Granadilla. León became a league champion with Barcelona for the second time on May 9, 2021.

A fan holds a sign for León following the 2023 Champions League victory

Barcelona reached the 2021 UEFA Women's Champions League Final. They beat Paris Saint-Germain with a total score of 2–1. In the second game of the semifinal, León's defensive partner Andrea Pereira got a yellow card. This meant she could not play in the final. León played the final as a center-back alongside Patri Guijarro, a defensive midfielder. Barcelona's defense did not let in any goals. They won 4–0, winning their first UEFA Women's Champions League title. León was chosen for the 2020–21 UEFA Women's Champions League Squad of the Season. She was also nominated for the best defender award. After the Champions League, León played every minute of the remaining games of the 2021 Copa de la Reina. Barcelona won the final 4–2. They achieved the continental treble for the first time in their history.

León won the league title with Barcelona for the third year in a row. They won every match that season. She also won the Copa de la Reina and Supercopa de España. She started in her team's 1–3 loss against Lyon in the Champions League final.

On November 20, 2022, she scored in her 200th game for Barcelona. Her team won 8–0 against Alavés in a league game.

On June 3, 2023, Mapi played the whole match as Barcelona won 3–2 against VfL Wolfsburg in the final. This win gave her a second Women's Champions League title. She started the 2023–24 season playing very well. However, she suffered a knee injury in December. This injury meant she could not play for the rest of the season.

Club Statistics

International Career

León (top row, third from right) with Spain in 2018

Mapi León first played for Spain's senior team on September 15, 2016. She came on as a substitute during Spain's 13–0 win against Montenegro. This was a qualifying match for the UEFA Women's Euro 2017.

In 2017, León was called up for her first major tournament with Spain, the 2017 UEFA Women's Euro. Spain reached the quarterfinals but lost to Austria in a penalty shootout. León was captain for Spain for the first time at the 2019 Algarve Cup.

León started all of Spain's matches at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Spain reached the Round of 16, where they played against the United States. In the 7th minute, she gave away a penalty. Megan Rapinoe scored from it, putting the USA up 1–0. The match ended 2–1 for the United States, and Spain left the tournament.

In 2021, Spain won 3–0 against Poland in a UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying match. León scored her first goal for the Spain national team in this game. In the same match, she wore her mother's maiden name, Cebrián, on her shirt.

The next year, in July, León played in the 2022 UEFA Women's Euro. Spain was knocked out in the quarterfinals by England, who went on to win the tournament. In September, León and 14 other teammates decided not to join the national team. This decision came from a disagreement between the players and Spain's coach. The group, known as Las 15, later released a statement. They explained their decision, mentioning concerns about their physical and mental well-being. León continued to decline call-ups to the national team in 2023. She did not make herself available for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. She said in an interview that she could not return if the situation had not changed enough.

International Goals

Mapi León – goals for  Spain
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	23 February 2021	La Ciudad del Fútbol, Las Rozas de Madrid	Poland	3–0	3–0	UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying

Playing Style

Mapi León is a skilled defender who uses her left foot. She can play both as a left-back and a center-back. She is mostly used as a center-back who can pass the ball well. Her main strengths are her excellent technique and passing ability. FIFA describes her as an energetic player who reacts quickly and understands the game well. Her former Atlético Madrid coach, Ángel Villacampa, helped her become a center-back. He said León's style fits perfectly with Barcelona's way of playing. This is because she can send the ball up the field and prefers to play high up the pitch.

Personal Life and Hobbies

Mapi León has a strong interest in motorcycles. This passion came from her father, who is a mechanic. She also enjoys drawing and painting. She has several tattoos. Her first tattoo was a small one on her foot, which she got in a hidden spot from her parents. One of her most noticeable tattoos is on her neck. It says "Looks can be deceiving." She practices tattooing on her own hands and feet. In 2021, she was training at a tattoo shop. She has said that she would like to focus on her tattoos and tattoo design after she stops playing football.

Honours and Awards

Espanyol

• Copa Catalunya: 2013

Atletico Madrid

• Primera División: 2016–17
• Copa de la Reina: 2016

Barcelona

• Primera División: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
• UEFA Women's Champions League: 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
• Copa de la Reina: 2018, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24
• Supercopa de España: 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23
• Copa Catalunya: 2018, 2019

Spain

• Algarve Cup: 2017
• SheBelieves Cup: runner-up 2020
• Arnold Clark Cup: runner-up 2022

Individual

• Fútbol Draft: 2013, 2015, 2016
• Primera División Best XI of the Season: 2016–17
• UEFA Women's Champions League Squad of the Season: 2020–21
• FIFA FIFPRO Women's World 11: 2022
• IFFHS Women's UEFA Team: 2021

Images for kids

• María León Cebrián audio.mp3

  Mapi León audio pronunciation

See also

In Spanish: Mapi León para niños