She left Querência do Norte, a town of 23,000 inhabitants in the interior of Paraná, to arrive at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on 22 September 2025. Not as a guest. As a nominee.

Amanda Gutierres, Palmeiras’ “Gutigol”, was one of the 30 finalists for France Football magazine’s 2025 Ballon d’Or Féminin — the most coveted award in world football. She finished in 21st place, with 20 points. Is that not much? It depends on how you look at it. She was the only player among the 30 finalists who did not play in Europe or the United States. The sole representative of South American football in the rankings. A statistical anomaly that says everything about what she achieved in 2025.

The Year Paris Couldn't Ignore

The numbers speak for themselves. In the Brasileirão Feminino Série A1, Amanda was the top scorer for the third consecutive season — 17 goals, eight more than the runner-up, Paulina Gramaglia of Bragantino. At the 2025 Copa América in Ecuador, she was joint top scorer of the tournament with six goals — including a decisive penalty in the final against Colombia, which gave Brazil their ninth title in the competition. She was selected for the tournament’s team of the tournament. In 92 appearances for Palmeiras, she scored 68 goals, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer. At the ESPN Bola de Prata Awards, she won the top scorer trophy for the third year running — equalling Romário, Túlio Maravilha and Fred as the most decorated top scorers in the history of the competition, men and women combined.

The Price of Talent

In October 2025, Palmeiras announced her sale to Boston Legacy FC of the NWSL for US$1.1 million — the biggest transfer in the history of Brazilian women’s football and the fifth most expensive in the world. The green-and-white club retained 25% of her economic rights. “We put together a wonderful project for Guti. She arrived, was top scorer several times, made it into the national team and won titles. Nobody is happy to lose an athlete of this calibre, but it’s part of the cycle,” said Alberto Simão, director of women’s football at Palmeiras.

What's next?

Amanda Gutierres has been with Boston Legacy since January 2026 for the inaugural season of the NWSL. The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil. The 2026 Ballon d’Or is still up for grabs. The 24-year-old has everything it takes to be Brazil’s leading contender — with the advantage, this time, of playing in the United States, firmly on the radar of European voters.