'Age is just a number': Teen sensation smashing records

Indiana dos Santos is proof that age has no bearing on talent and success.

At just 16 years of age, the Sydney FC forward is lighting up the A-League Women (ALW) competition.

During the 2022-23 season, dos Santos debuted as Sydney FC’s youngest-ever player, aged 15 years and 117 days. Her age at the time also positions her as the 10th youngest player in the women’s league’s history.

To put her prodigious talent in context, Sam Kerr made her debut for Perth Glory at 15 years and 45 days, while fellow Matildas champion Emily van Egmond debuted at 15 years, 106 days.

To cement her place in the top flight, it took dos Santos just a couple of months to score her first ALW goal, making her the Sky Blues’ youngest-ever goalscorer before featuring in the club’s grand final victory as the youngest-ever player — male or female — in an A-Leagues decider.

Kerr and van Egmond also feature prominently on the ‘youngest goalscorers’ list, with Kerr holding the record for hitting the back of the net at 15 years and 88 days.

Any way you slice it, dos Santos now commands a place in history, surrounded by some truly elite company.

Now, the Young Matilda is merely hours away from her second straight ALW grand final, with Melbourne City to host Sydney FC on Saturday afternoon.

Despite all the plaudits linked to her age, dos Santos has never let her youth define her.

“It’s not something you think about all the time but it’s pretty cool when someone does bring it up,” she tells Wide World of Sports of the league records she owns.

“It’s cool to hold them.

“My parents always say, ‘Age is just a number’. At the end of the day, we’re all women so you just need to play your own game. Age determines nothing.”

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However, dos Santos’ approach to her football does not mean the teenager’s experience in the ALW has been without challenges.

Playing in Australia’s top division of women’s football, dos Santos often comes up against long-serving players who outmuscle her.

“They’re a lot stronger than me, that’s a bit of a downfall, but you can always work on getting stronger, especially as you get older. It’s not a big deal,” she says.

“It’s a bit hard to push [players] off the ball but you find ways to work around it.”

Because of this, dos Santos has developed an enviable ability to keep possession — a trait that caught Sydney FC’s attention.

Dos Santos started playing football at four years of age.

At 12, she was selected to join the Football NSW Institute. This brought with it a daily four-hour round trip from dos Santos’ home in Shellharbour to Sydney as she and her older sister Jynaya trained on alternative days.

From the institute’s pathway, dos Santos was scouted to Sydney FC alongside Jynaya.

“It was pretty cool. My dad got the phone call and he rang us straight after and told us,” dos Santos says.

“We couldn’t wait. We were both really excited as Sydney FC was a club that we had always wanted to play for and had always supported and watched when we were younger.

“It was honestly like a dream come true.”

Juggling school, training and being a “normal” kid, dos Santos spends a lot of time in the car — the place she calls from now.

“When I’m in the car, I’ll use that time to study if I have a test or catch up on things,” she says of managing her competing priorities.

A typical day often constitutes several car rides, with dos Santos up early to get to Sydney FC training in Macquarie Park before heading to school in Fairfield West.

At school, she also completes a further two training sessions throughout the day.

After breaking into the Sky Blues’ starting line-up this season, dos Santos is aspiring to be the female role model she never had.

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“I’m trying to be [a role model], especially to people who are younger than me because I always wanted a role model but I never really had one because I never saw that much women’s football,” she says.

“If people can look up to me that would be really cool.”

Asked how she inspires others, dos Santos hopes her journey proves that age does not dictate what one can accomplish.

“Showing people that age is just a number and you can play at whatever level you want as long as you work hard, are determined and stay humble — you just put your head down and work for it,” she says.

In Saturday’s grand final, Sydney FC will play in their seventh consecutive ALW decider — after claiming the double last season.

Melbourne City secured this season’s premiership with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory in the final match of the regular season.

Earlier, Sydney FC suffered a 4-0 upset loss to Melbourne Victory to open the door for City.

Dos Santos has played a key role in the Sky Blues’ charge towards a fifth championship.

“It’s going to be a very intense game,” dos Santos says.

“Melbourne City are a very good side so we’ll have to play our best and hopefully come away with the win.”

The grand final gets underway at 4.15pm (AEST) at AAMI Park.