The professional soccer player for Tigres Femenil is featured in the series 30 Stories: EXATEC EGADE Through the Years for her leadership on and off the field and her role in advancing the professionalisation of women’s soccer in Mexico.
By INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
Cristina Ferral (MAF’18) has built an exemplary career as a professional soccer player, recognised for her leadership on the field and her efforts to promote a more inclusive, sustainable, and professional women’s soccer model.
She is currently captain of Tigres Femenil, with whom she has won six Liga MX Femenil championships. She wears jersey number 15. Cristina has also represented Mexico’s national team and played professionally in Europe, becoming the first Mexican player to join Olympique de Marseille in France.
A CAREER THAT COMBINES EDUCATION AND SPORTS
Born in Tamaulipas, Cristina began her university studies at Tecnológico de Monterrey, where she joined the Monterrey campus women’s soccer team, winning five national university championships. She also earned a silver medal with the Mexican national team at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, and was named MVP of the 2012 national championship.
In 2014, she earned an athletic scholarship to study at the University of South Florida, where she played until 2015 and was honored as Defensive Player of the Year in her final season.
In summer 2017, she signed her first professional contract with Olympique de Marseille. She returned to Mexico in 2018 and joined Tigres Femenil, where she has been a key player ever since.
Alongside her sports career, Cristina pursued a Master in Finance at EGADE Business School, completing the program in 2018—the same year she won a gold medal with the Mexican national team at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia.
“EGADE helped me strengthen my leadership. While studying for my master’s degree, I began my career as a professional soccer player—an unusual profession for a woman in Mexican society. I shared classes with classmates and professors who were very experienced in finance, which not only enriched my knowledge, but also helped me lead in a ‘new industry’ like women’s soccer in Mexico,” Cristina recalls.
ATHLETE AND AGENT OF CHANGE
Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Cristina is the co-founder of Impulse AC. This foundation provides financial support to female student-athletes, enabling them to complete their education while continuing their sports careers. She also participates in clinics and talks to encourage sports development among young girls.
“Being a leader in women’s soccer also means using the sport as a platform to share values of inclusion, acceptance, and leadership,” she says. Cristina advocates for combining athletics and education as a path to social mobility and women’s empowerment.
Cristina believes that business leaders must be adaptable in an ever-changing landscape: “Competitive advantage in large companies lies in their ability to adapt and meet customer needs,” she says. She adds that leaders must show “empathy and acceptance of the changes happening in society.”
As an EXATEC EGADE, Cristina Ferral proves that it is possible to lead through sports, combining discipline, strategic vision, and social impact, while inspiring new generations to pursue their goals both on and off the field.