'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 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.