Preeti Rai

Preeti Rai

Preeti Rai
Quick Facts About Preeti Rai
Celebrated Name Preeti Rai
Age 20 years old
Nick Name Preeti Rai
Birth Name Preeti Kulung Rai
Birth Date 2004-11-21
Gender Female
Profession Footballer
Place of Birth Kathmandu, Nepal
Horoscope Scorpio
Nationality Nepali
Height 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Position Midfielder
Current Team APF FC, Nepal women's national football team
Net Worth NPR 1 lakh

Preeti Rai is known for her intelligent play as a midfielder. Her vision, technical control, and sharp passing allow her to dictate the pace of the game and create goal-scoring opportunities. She is especially recognized for her accurate assists and ability to transition defense into attack.

Who is Preeti Rai? 

Preeti Rai is a Nepali footballer who has quickly become one of the most admired female players in the country. Known for her skillful play and sharp passes, she plays a key role in the Nepal National Women's Football Team as a midfielder

Early Life, Family & Early Career

Preeti Rai is a football player from Nepal. She was born on November 21, 2004, in Kathmandu, but her family comes from Solukhumbu District. Her parents are Chandra Prasad Rai and Gyanmaya Rai. Preeti loved football since she was very young. She started playing when she was just six years old. She went to school at Sharada Academy.

In 2015, she joined the Nepal Youth Programme (NYP), where she was the first girl to train with boys. This was a big step, and she proved herself with hard work and a "never give up" attitude. Her skills improved quickly because of her dedication and discipline.

Later, she also trained at the UCTA Club to improve even more. Even though she is short in height, she never gave up and kept playing well. She played for Nepal's U-15 and U-16 teams and even became team captain. This showed her strong leadership and passion for football.

Club and National Career (Football)

Preeti Rai plays as a midfielder. This means she helps control the game and creates chances for her team to score goals. She is very good at passing, moving with the ball, and seeing where to play it. Because of her smart play, defenders often find it hard to stop her. She has won many awards, like Best Player and Man of the Match.

Preeti's football career started to grow when she was chosen for district-level matches. She became well-known after winning the Best Midfielder award in the Coca-Cola School-Level Football Tournament. In 2017, she became the captain of Nepal’s U-15 girls’ team.

After that, she played regularly for Nepal’s junior national teams — U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-19. In 2019, she joined APF Football Club and helped them win the National Women’s Football League.

Preeti played her first senior match for Nepal’s national team on September 9, 2021, against Bangladesh. She was only 16 and scored a great goal in the 22nd minute of the game.

In 2024, she played in the WAFF Women’s Championship and helped Nepal come in second. She also played in the SAFF Women’s Championship and scored many goals, including one in Nepal’s big 11–0 win against the Maldives.

The Dribbling Maestro - Preeti Rai

Style of Play

Preeti Rai is known for her intelligent play as a midfielder. Her vision, technical control, and sharp passing allow her to dictate the pace of the game and create goal-scoring opportunities. She is especially recognized for her accurate assists and ability to transition defense into attack.

International Goals

As of October 21, 2024, Preeti Rai has scored 5 international goals for Nepal. Here are some highlights:

  • 1st Goal: September 9, 2021, vs. Bangladesh – FIFA Friendly (Score: 2–1)
  • 2nd Goal: February 27, 2024, vs. Lebanon – WAFF Championship (Score: 2–1)
  • 3rd Goal: October 21, 2024, vs. Maldives – SAFF Championship (Score: 1–0)
  • 4th & 5th Goals: Same match – Nepal defeated Maldives 11–0

Net Worth, Salary, and Source of Income

Preeti Rai earns around NPR 1 lakh every month from playing football. Her main source of income is her salary from the football club and the national team. She may also earn from awards, tournaments, and sponsorships.

With her hard work, skill, and discipline, Preeti Rai continues to inspire many young players in Nepal. She has a bright future in women’s football.

Facts About Preeti Rai

  • Preeti Rai, who plays as a midfielder for the Armed Police Force Football Club (APF FC) and the Nepal women's national football team.
  • Preeti Rai made her senior national team debut on September 9, 2021, against Bangladesh and scored in the 22nd minute.
  • As of  2025, Preeti Rai has scored 5 international goals for Nepal.
  • Preeti Rai has publicly stated that her football idol is Lionel Messi, citing his skill, vision, and inspiring play as her main source of motivation.
  • Nepali fans often call Preeti Rai the “Women’s Messi of Nepal” or simply the “Nepali Messi,” praising her dribbling, vision, and goal-scoring flair.