Mapi León Biography: Spouse, Salary, Age, Height, Net Worth, Family, Position, Parents, Stats

María Pilar León Cebrián, known as Mapi León, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defender for FC Barcelona and the Spain national team.

She began her career at Prainsa Zaragoza before moving to Espanyol and Atlético Madrid. At Atlético, she transitioned from a left-back to a centre-back under coach Ángel Villacampa.

León debuted for the Spanish national team in 2016 during the 2017 UEFA Women’s Euro qualifiers.

Profile

• Full Name: Ingrid Syrstad Engen
• Stage Name: Mapi Leon
• Born: June 13, 1995
• Age: 29 years old
• Birthplace: Zaragoza, Spain
• Nationality: Spain
• Occupation: Spanish professional footballer
• Height: 1.69 m
• Parent: Javier Leon ,Pilar León
• Siblings: Javi León
• Spouse: Ingrid Syrstad Engen
• Children: Unknown
• Relationship: Unmarried
• Net Worth: $1 million.

Early Life And Education

María Pilar León Cebrián, known as Mapi León, was born on June 13, 1995, in Zaragoza, Spain, to parents Javier and Pilar.

She grew up in La Almozara, a district in Zaragoza, with an older brother named Javi León. León had a promising educational background and was offered a scholarship to attend an art school.

However, she chose to decline the offer in favour of pursuing her passion for football. She is of Spanish ethnicity, and while her religion is not publicly known, her dedication to football has shaped her career.

Career

Mapi León started her athletic journey at a young age, playing various sports, including volleyball and baseball.

She also played futsal for the local team Gran Vía, where she started as a winger. Despite receiving a scholarship to attend art school, she focused on football.

Her talent was discovered by David Magaña, a former sporting director at Zaragoza CFF, who spotted her playing football with her brother, Javi, at a Carrefour supermarket. León began training with Prainsa Zaragoza at age 11, marking the start of her professional career.

At just 16, León debuted in the Primera División with Prainsa Zaragoza, making an impressive first appearance against Barcelona.

In 2013, Zaragoza reached the Copa de la Reina final, where they faced Barcelona, and León played her final match for the club in a 4–0 defeat. After just one season with Zaragoza, she moved to RCD Espanyol in 2013, where she began receiving call-ups for Spain’s senior national team.

This attention caught the eye of Atlético Madrid, who had finished third in the league the previous season, and León joined the club in 2014.

León’s time at Atlético Madrid was marked by a significant positional shift under coach Ángel Villacampa, who converted her from a left-back to a centre-back.

In her first season, Atlético finished second in the league, securing a spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

León made her UWCL debut in 2015 against Zorky Krasnogorsk, and although Atlético won the second leg, they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Lyon. León continued to develop as one of Spain’s top defenders, becoming a key player for Atlético.

In 2017, León’s transfer to FC Barcelona made headlines when it became the first paid transfer in Spanish women’s football history, with Barcelona signing her for €50,000.

She won her first Copa de la Reina with Barcelona in 2018, defeating Atlético Madrid after keeping a clean sheet for 120 minutes. León’s performances continued to impress; in 2020, she was nominated for UEFA Women’s Team of the Year.

Her career at Barcelona saw her achieve significant milestones, including playing in the first competitive match at the Camp Nou for a women’s team and assisting in a memorable goal against Atletico Madrid.

León’s international career with Spain began in 2016 during a 13–0 victory over Montenegro in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 qualifiers. She scored her first international goal in 2021 during a 3–0 win over Poland in the Euro 2022 qualifiers. León played in the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro, where England eliminated Spain in the quarterfinals.

As of 2023, she helped Barcelona secure a second Women’s Champions League title and reached 200 appearances.

Unfortunately, her 2023–24 season was cut short due to a meniscus tear, but her legacy as one of Spain’s top defenders remains undeniable.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @marialeonn16

Personal Life

Mapi León is in a relationship with her Barcelona teammate, Ingrid Syrstad Engen, a Norwegian international footballer.

The couple publicly confirmed their relationship in 2022. León came out as a lesbian in 2018 and has since become an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

She frequently speaks out against homophobia in sports, using her platform to promote inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Net Worth

Mapi León’s net worth is estimated at around $1 million. She earns an annual salary of approximately €300,000 from her contract with FC Barcelona.

In addition to her football earnings, León has endorsement deals with prominent brands like Nike, Puma, and Adidas, further boosting her income.