Mara Gomez has made history by becoming the first transgender woman to play professional soccer earlier this week.

The 23-year-old played up front for Villa San Carlos after she was officially registered by the Argentinian FA in November, and even though the team lost the game 7-1, Gomez was delighted to have made her professional debut.

She later told reporters that she hoped that her achievement would open up "new roads" for transgender soccer players.

In an interview with ESPN, she said: "When I started out, football was a therapy for me and I couldn't think it was possible to dream or consider playing in the top division.

"A few years back this was unthinkable to talk about or debate but now we are opening new roads. This is a huge achievement. I'm totally grateful to my club, to my teammates and coaching staff for opening the doors for me and for showing me respect from the beginning.

"I'm proud to represent a community but also a part of society and to know that I have become a reference for a lot of people."

The game was made all the more special for Gomez by the long wait she has endured to play, having been signed earlier this year, but been unable to make her debut as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

Prior to this, she had played for the Platense Football League for Las Malvinas, but she was officially allowed to step up when the AFA confirmed that she had acceptably low levels of testosterone in her blood to play at this level.

Gomez wrote on Instagram that football saved her life, and candidly revealed that the "discrimination and exclusion" she faced outside of the sport had a detrimental effect on her mental health.

She said: "It wasn't magic, it wasn't a gift, it wasn’t easy. There was a life of fighting, suffering, and sadness.

"There was a life on the edge of death and a broken heart. Many obstacles had to be overcome to revert the past… This has only just begun. Today I breathe, today my soul returns to my body."

Mara Gomez has made history by becoming the first transgender woman to play professional soccer earlier this week.

The 23-year-old played up front for Villa San Carlos after she was officially registered by the Argentinian FA in November, and even though the team lost the game 7-1, Gomez was delighted to have made her professional debut.

She later told reporters that she hoped that her achievement would open up "new roads" for transgender soccer players.

In an interview with ESPN, she said: "When I started out, football was a therapy for me and I couldn't think it was possible to dream or consider playing in the top division.

"A few years back this was unthinkable to talk about or debate but now we are opening new roads. This is a huge achievement. I'm totally grateful to my club, to my teammates and coaching staff for opening the doors for me and for showing me respect from the beginning.

"I'm proud to represent a community but also a part of society and to know that I have become a reference for a lot of people."

The game was made all the more special for Gomez by the long wait she has endured to play, having been signed earlier this year, but been unable to make her debut as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

Prior to this, she had played for the Platense Football League for Las Malvinas, but she was officially allowed to step up when the AFA confirmed that she had acceptably low levels of testosterone in her blood to play at this level.

Gomez wrote on Instagram that football saved her life, and candidly revealed that the "discrimination and exclusion" she faced outside of the sport had a detrimental effect on her mental health.

She said: "It wasn't magic, it wasn't a gift, it wasn’t easy. There was a life of fighting, suffering, and sadness.

"There was a life on the edge of death and a broken heart. Many obstacles had to be overcome to revert the past… This has only just begun. Today I breathe, today my soul returns to my body."