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Forbes recognition highlights Pimenta's influence
Brazilian football agent Rafaela Pimenta, 53, has earned a place on Forbes' 2026 '50 over 50' list, joining figures like Oscar-winning actress Penélope Cruz and the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally. The annual list celebrates women who have achieved significant status and influence in their fields.
Pimenta's client roster and career journey
As football's first female super agent, Pimenta represents high-profile clients, including Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, Liverpool manager Arne Slot, and 17-year-old Mexican prodigy Gilberto Mora. Her career spans decades of transformation in football, from personal player-director relationships to the sport's increasingly corporate landscape.
Pimenta reflects on the shift: "Football used to be more human. Today, it's becoming so much of a business that players risk being treated as assets on a balance sheet-without a voice, feelings, or human needs."
Calls for transfer system reform
On the eve of the transfer deadline, Pimenta criticizes the current system for giving clubs excessive power. "Players are sometimes hostages of situations," she says. "We need balance. Every transfer window, someone ends up in tears because a club demands an extra £1 million."
In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that FIFA's transfer rules violated EU laws. FIFA later introduced an interim framework to address compensation calculations and contract breaches, but Pimenta argues the system remains flawed.
"There needs to be a change. There's too much power for clubs."
Rafaela Pimenta
Evolution of player representation
Pimenta notes how player management has grown more complex. "Years ago, a transfer could be finalized in 18 hours behind closed doors," she recalls. "Now, deals require weeks or months of preparation due to labor laws, taxes, and local regulations."
Players like Haaland, who runs a YouTube channel with 1.28 million subscribers, have become "mini companies," she explains. "Opportunities off the pitch-media, sponsors, startups-are now as important as on-field performance."
Gender inequality in football
Pimenta discusses the challenges women face in the industry. "When I started, few women held decision-making roles," she says. "You'd see them in scouting or administrative positions, but the final 'door' was always reserved for men."
She recounts a 2024 incident where a club official complimented her lawyer by saying, "You taught her well," after a successful negotiation. "He meant it as praise, but it was unbelievable-implying I couldn't have done it alone."
On Luis Rubiales, the disgraced former Spanish FA president convicted of sexually assaulting Jenni Hermoso, Pimenta asks: "Would he have kissed Messi on the mouth after a trophy? If he had, would he still have his job?"
Advice for women in football
Pimenta, who teaches at UEFA's agent courses, urges young women to reject abuse. "Don't sexualize yourself to succeed," she advises. "I'm not standing up for myself anymore-people respect me. But I want to make it easier for the next generation."
Her message is clear: "Prove yourself every day. Football has no memory. What you did yesterday doesn't matter."
