Melissa Espina

Melissa Andrea Espina Esquivel (born 6 July 1994) is a Chilean football player who plays as a midfielder for Audax Italiano (women).

Club career
Born in Santiago de Chile, Espina began playing football alongside male players.

At club level, she made her debut with Unión San Felipe at the age of thirteen.

Later, she played for Audax Italiano (women), Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile.

In 2015, she emigrated to Mexico and spent six years playing at university level for Aztecas UDLAP until 2020.

Back in Chile, she joined Club Deportivo Palestino (women). In February 2022, she signed her first professional contract with them. In the first half of the same year, she suffered a clavicle fracture, returning to play in the second half.

In 2023, she joined the Mexican club Atlético San Luis, becoming the first Chilean player in the Liga MX Femenil. She made his debut on 16 January in the 3–1 win against León and left the club in the second half of the year.

In 2024, she returned to her homeland and rejoined Audax Italiano.

International career
In 2009, Espina represented Chile U17 in friendly matches previous to the 2010 South American Championship, but she was crashed by a car while riding a bicycle, suffering a fracture in two lumbar vertebrae and not taking part in the final squad. However, she took part in the FIFA World Cup.

In 2012, she represented the under-20's.

At senior level, she has taken part in training microcycles in 2021.

Personal life
Espina attended the Universidad de las Américas Puebla and got a degree in business managing. She has worked as a business analyst in a Chilean medical technology company.