Out on the pitch, they finally can feel like themselves.
In addition to the sheer joy that football brings them, Mara Gomez and Marcos Rojo have the extra satisfaction of knowing that after a long and difficult journey, they are blazing a trail for transgender players in Argentina.
Tall, slim and with her hair tied back in a ponytail, Gomez plays for the team of Villa San Carlos in La Plata, 60 kilometers (40 miles) south of Buenos Aires.
At 23, she aims to become the first transgender player in the new women's professional league in her native country.
"I suffered a lot from discrimination, exclusion, verbal abuse in the street and in school. Football was like therapy for me," Gomez told AFP.
She started playing at 15, encouraged by neighbours.
More From This Section
In the women's league in La Plata, Gomez distinguished herself as a leading goal scorer in the past two seasons.
That prompted Villa San Carlos, in last place in the women's professional league, to seek to recruit her.
"She's quick and is very good at kicking on target," said trainer Juan Cruz Vitale. "Unlike what people and the media were thinking, she isn't that strong. I have a number
- 'Playing with the men' -
==========================
"The support of a team for this change means a lot."
Rojo said men's football is "much more demanding."
"The boys are all good kickers. For me, it will be a huge achievement if I manage to play in the premier division at some point."
- 'Right to play' -
===================