Natalia Pereira is a Brazilian professional volleyball player who won the gold medal with the Brazilian national volleyball team in the London 2012 Olympics, but also is a silver medalist at Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She is a two-time champion at the Women FIVB Grand Champions Cup, six-time champion at the Women South American Championships, four-time Women World Grand Prix gold medalist, and three-time Women Pan American Cup champion. Natalia Pereira was awarded MVP of the World Championships U19 2005, World Championships U20 2007, South American Club Championship 2012/2013, Brazilian Superliga 2015/2016, World Grand Prix 2016 and 2017, Turkiye Kadınlar Voleybol Ligi 2016/2017, and the Russian Cup 2022/2023.
Natalia Zilio Pereira was born on April 4, 1989, in Joacaba, Santa Catarina, Brazil. She started in sports as a kid, moving to volleyball at school. She showed great talent and quickly was called for the junior national teams, winning the gold at the Women South American Championship U18 in 2004 and Women World Championships U19 in 2005.
Natalia Pereira started her professional career in 2004 for Oi/Campos. She made a great maiden season with the club, finishing second at the Carioca Championship and third at the Brazilian Superliga. She was also called for the Brazilian national teams to win the title at the World Championships U19 2005 with the junior team, where was awarded MVP, and the FIVB Grand Champions Cup with the senior team.
In 2005, Natalia Pereira signed with Oi Macae, repeating her success from the previous season to win the silver at the Carioca Championship and third at the Brazilian Superliga. With the national team, she won the titles at the South American Championship U20 and Pan American Cup.
Natalia Pereira signed with Sollys Nestle/Osasco in 2006, where stayed for five seasons. She won the Brazilian Superliga in 2009/2010, the Brazilian Cup in 2008/2009, the Paulista Championship in 2006/2007, 2007/2008, as well as South American Club Championship in 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011. Meanwhile, she played with the Brazilian national team and made a fantastic performance, triumphing with the titles at the World Championships U20 in 2007, South American Championships in 2007 and 2009, Pan American Cup in 2009 and 2011, Women Montreux Volley Masters in 2009, and World Grand Prix in 2009. She also won the silver at the FIVB World Cup in 2007 and World Championships in 2010.
In 2011, Natalia Pereira signed with Unilever Volei, winning the Brazilian Superliga 2012/2013 and Carioca Championship 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. Her team also won the gold at the South American Club Championship in 2012/2013. With the national team, she won the gold at the South American Championships 2013 and FIVB Grand Champions Cup 2013, but her biggest success came at the London 2012 Olympics, winning the gold.
In 2013, Natalia Pereira signed with Volei Amil/Campinas, winning the bronze at the Paulista Championship and Brazilian Cup, but also finished 4th at the Brazilian Superliga. With the national team, she won the gold at the World Grand Prix 2014, the silver at the USA Volleyball Cup 2014, and the bronze at the World Championships 2014.
Natalia Pereira moved to the Rexona/Ades volleyball club in 2014. She made a great maiden season by winning the Carioca Championship, Brazilian Superliga, and South American Club Championship. With the Brazilian national team, she won the gold at the International Cup 2015 and South American Championships 2015. In the 2015/2016 season, her team made a treble winning the Brazilian Superliga, Brazilian Cup and Brazilian Supercup. They also won the Carioca Championship and South American Club Championship but also finished 4th at the Club World Championship. With the Brazilian national team, Natalia Pereira won the gold at the International Cup 2016 and World Grand Prix 2016, but at the Rio 2016 Olympics, finished only 5th.
In 2016, Natalia Zilio Pereira made her first transfer abroad, signing with the Turkish volleyball club Fenerbahce Grundig. In her maiden season with the club, they made a double winning the Turkiye Kadınlar Voleybol Ligi and Turkish Cup, as well as finished 5th at the Champions League. She continued playing with the national team, winning the gold at the International Cup, Montreux Volley Masters, World Grand Prix, and South American Championships, as well as the silver at the FIVB Grand Champions Cup. In the second season with the club, she won the bronze at the Turkiye Kadınlar Voleybol Ligi and the Turkish Cup.
In 2018, Natalia Zilio Pereira returned to Brazil and signed with Itambe/Minas, winning the Mineiro Championship, Brazilian Superliga, Brazilian Cup, and South American Club Championship. She also won the silver at the Club World Championship. With the Brazilian national team, she won the silver at the Volleyball Nations League 2019.
In 2019, Natalia Pereira returned back to Turkey and signed with Eczacibasi VitrA to win the Turkish Supercup and Club World Championship.
In 2020, she moved to Russia and signed with Dinamo Moscow. Her team won the gold at the Russian Cup and the silver at the Russian Superleague, playing also at the Champions League. With the Brazilian national team, she won the silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the Volleyball Nations League, as well as the gold at the South American Championships.
In 2021, Natalia Pereira signed with the Italian volleyball club Savino Del Bene Scandicci for one season to win the Challenge Cup, before returning back to Russia in 2022 and again signing with Dinamo Moscow to make a double, winning the Russian Superleague and Russian Cup.