| Sofia Sakalis | |
| Fullname: | Sofia Sakalis |
| Birth Date: | 2002 7, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | East Melbourne, Australia |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Melbourne Victory |
| Clubnumber: | 5 |
| Years1: | 2017–2021 |
| Clubs1: | Melbourne City |
| Caps1: | 5 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2021–2024 |
| Clubs2: | Perth Glory |
| Caps2: | 49 |
| Goals2: | 3 |
| Years3: | 2024– |
| Clubs3: | Melbourne Victory |
| Caps3: | 0 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2016–2017 |
| Nationalteam1: | Australia U-17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 8 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 12 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2018– |
| Nationalteam2: | Australia U-20 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 28 May 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 31 October 2018 |
Sofia Sakalis (born 11 July 2002) is an Australian soccer player who plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women. She has represented Australia in the Australia U-17 and Australia U-20. Sakalis plays in the attacking midfielder position.
Sakalis, who is of Greek-Australian background, showed interest in soccer at the age of three and began playing two years later.[1] [2] When she first started playing, coaches assigned her to teams with boys her age but advanced her to play with older boys.[1] At age 13, her performance at the National Championships earned her call-ups to three training camps with the Junior Matildas, Australia's under-17 national team.[1]
After training with Melbourne City in 2015–16, Sakalis signed with the team for the 2017–18 season at the age of 15.[3] She made her debut for the club during the team's 5–2 win over the Newcastle Jets on 12 November.[4] [5]
Sofia signed a 2-year deal with Perth Glory ahead of the 2021–22 A-League Women season.[6] In August 2024, Sakalis announced that she had left the club.[7]
In August 2024, Sakalis joined Melbourne Victory.[8]
Sakalis was awarded Football Victoria's Gold Medal Award for the best player of 2022.
Sakalis competed with the Junior Matildas[9] [10] at the 2017 AFC U-16 Women's Championship qualification tournament in Vietnam where they finished first in their group with an undefeated record.[11] During the team's first group match against Palestine, Sakalis scored five goals,[12] and scored a total of 11 goals over 5 games.[13] She was the top scorer at the qualifying tournament, helping Australia secure a place at the 2017 AFC U-16 Women's Championship in Thailand.[11] [14]
Sakalis was named 2016 Sport Stars of the Year with Olympic boxer Jason Whateley by the Whitehorse Leader.[15]