
Aitana Bonmatí Rejoins Spain Squad After Being Hospitalized With Viral Meningitis
The Spanish Football Federation showed photos of Bonmatí arriving in Switzerland and meeting with coach Montse Tomé. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner was hospitalized after falling ill with a fever late Friday, putting her participation in the tournament in doubt. Despite her return, it remained unclear when or if Bonmatí would be fit to play. Spain's first game is against Portugal on Thursday in Bern. It will also face Belgium and Italy in Group B at Euro 2025.
Spain won the 2023 World Cup for its first major women's trophy. It also won the inaugural 2024 Women's Nations League. It has never won the European Championship.
The 27-year-old Bonmatí has won the top individual award for women's soccer for the past two years. The Barcelona player was key to Spain winning the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Monaco sign former teen prodigy Fati on season's loan from Barcelona
MONACO: Monaco signed Ansu Fati on a season-long loan from Barcelona on Tuesday, offering the former teen prodigy another chance to resurrect his career. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Monaco said the loan deal for the 22-year-old forward includes an option to buy at the end of the season. Fati burst onto the scene with Barcelona in 2019-20 season. At the age of 16 years and 304 days in August 2019, he became the club's youngest scorer in the Spanish league. Nearly four months later, at the age of 17 years and 40 days, he became the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history. Fati would set other records — he previously held the record as Spain's youngest ever scorer — with his reputation growing as a quick and tricky right winger with an eye for goal. He was predicted to become a world superstar in much the same way as 17-year-old Lamine Yamal is now with Barcelona and Spain. Like Yamal, he also had great versatility, offering him the possibility to operate as a second striker or by dropping deep in the 'false nine' role. But the Guinea-Bissau born forward then experienced a series of injuries which impacted his confidence and form. He played only a handful of games for Barcelona in the past two seasons and spent part of the 2023-24 season on loan to Premier League club Brighton, scoring four goals in 27 games. Fati netted 29 goals in 123 games overall for Barcelona and scored twice for Spain in 10 matches. He appeared fleetingly at the 2022 World Cup and has not played for the national team since 2023. Fati's arrival follows the signing of former France midfielder Paul Pogba on a two-year deal and strengthens coach Adi Hütter's attack. Pogba and Fati should add more versatility and extra firepower to an attack containing the prolific Mika Biereth and skilful US forward Folarin Balogun.


Al Arabiya
10 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Putellas Ready To Lead Spain At Euro 2025 After Injury Sidelined Her In 2022
Alexia Putellas doesn't have fond memories of the last Women's European Championship, when she tore a knee ligament on the eve of the tournament in England three years ago. Things are different now as Spain prepares for its campaign at Euro 2025 in Switzerland, with Putellas saying she's better than ever and ready to try to lead Spain to its first title in the competition. 'I'm not going to lie, it's a competition that I had in my sights after the injury I suffered just before the start of the last Euro,' she said. 'I've been preparing for this moment for a long time and I want to enjoy it.' The two-time world player of the year was coming off one of her most impressive seasons when she injured her left knee during a practice session just days before Spain's opener at Euro 2022. It kept her out of action for nearly a year and dealt a blow to Spain's chances in the tournament, where it was ousted by England in the quarterfinals. Putellas says she has improved a lot since then, even though other Spanish players such as Aitana Bonmatí – a two-time Ballon d'Or winner herself – have emerged as top stars. 'Without a doubt I'm a better Alexia,' she said. 'I know myself a lot better. I know my qualities. I know what I have been working on. In the end, all the suffering makes you evolve as a person and as an athlete. I've learned to manage the bad moments a lot better, as well as the good moments.' Putellas has had another outstanding season and is again among the favorites for the world player of the year award. She thrived as Barcelona won the domestic treble and reached another Champions League final. 'The individual award is not something too important for me,' the 31-year-old Putellas said. 'But it would show that you've done something good and from where I'm coming from – from the lowest of the lowest after the injury – it would give some value to the effort that it was put into the recovery. We'll see, but the most important thing is to win the Euro.' Bonmatí won the last two world player of the year awards, and she is now the one enduring an ordeal as after falling ill with viral meningitis just a few days before Spain traveled to Switzerland for the tournament. Bonmatí was released from the hospital on Sunday to rejoin the national squad, but it still wasn't clear how much she would participate. Spain will open its tournament Thursday against Portugal. It will also face Belgium and Italy in Group B. The nation's best result in the European tournament was a semifinals appearance in 1997. Spain established itself as one of the powerhouses in women's soccer by winning the World Cup in 2023 and the inaugural Women's Nations League in 2024. It then just missed out on a medal at the Paris Olympics when it lost to Brazil in the semifinals and to Germany in the bronze-medal match. 'It's never easy to win a Euro,' Putellas said. 'We need to have maximum respect toward the other nations. There are great teams participating. But we have a lot of faith in our team, and if we give our best we will be that much closer to winning.'


Leaders
13 hours ago
- Leaders
Ronaldo Praises Saudi Crown Prince's Vision, Plans to Live in Kingdom for Life
Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed his intention to live in Saudi Arabia for the rest of his life, citing his ambition to win a major title with his club Al Nassr as a key reason behind renewing his contract. Ronaldo also explained his decision to skip the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, saying he wants to be fully prepared for the upcoming season. He described Saudi Arabia as a wonderful country to live in, emphasizing its peace and security. On Thursday, Al Nassr announced that the Portuguese captain had extended his contract until 2027, committing to stay beyond his 42nd birthday. Ronaldo joined the Saudi club on a two-and-a-half-year free transfer in 2022 after leaving Manchester United. Since then, he has scored 99 goals across all competitions. Ronaldo Extoles Crown Prince In a video released on Al Nassr's official X (formerly Twitter) account, Ronaldo praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his pivotal role in the kingdom's development. 'I must thank Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the great work and effort he is doing,' Ronaldo said. 'He is the most influential figure behind this significant change and progress in Saudi Arabia.' The striker added, 'The development here is huge, and the future looks bright. Yes, I am Portuguese, but I belong to Saudi Arabia.' Contract Extension On his contract renewal, Ronaldo said, 'From day one, I have taken responsibility for change—not just at Al Nassr, but for Saudi football as a whole.' He explained his decision to extend his stay was motivated by his desire to win titles with Al Nassr and his strong belief that he will be a champion in Saudi Arabia. Regarding his refusal to participate in the Club World Cup, Ronaldo stated, 'The next season is long and ends with the World Cup for national teams, so I preferred to rest and better prepare for what's coming.' Ronaldo also praised the Saudi Professional League as one of the top five leagues globally and affirmed his commitment to stay until 2034 to witness the success of the Saudi football project and the hosting of the World Cup in the kingdom. 'I love the Saudi people, and my great relationship with Al Nassr fans is one of the main reasons I renewed my contract,' he said. Reflecting on last season, Ronaldo acknowledged the club's disappointments but promised, 'We weren't happy with what happened last season, but we will be much stronger next season.' Family Support In a video posted on Al Nassr's YouTube channel, Ronaldo shared, 'My family always supports my decisions. We are happy here in Saudi Arabia, living a beautiful life. The Saudis treat us incredibly well, and that's why we want to live and spend our lives here.' 'My goal is always to win important titles with Al Nassr. I still believe in that, which is why I renewed my contract for two more years—I believe I will be a champion in Saudi Arabia,' he added. Although Ronaldo helped Al Nassr win the King Salman Club Cup, he has yet to lead the club to other major trophies. This month, Ronaldo played a key role in Portugal's UEFA Nations League triumph, scoring in the final against Spain before Portugal won on penalties against the European champions. The all-time top scorer for Portugal concluded, 'We don't need to prove anything or convince anyone to come to Saudi Arabia. I am here on the Red Sea because I love it—my family feels at peace here. It's not just about the tourist destinations, but Riyadh, Jeddah, and others. I love the culture here, and all I can say is that people should come see it with their own eyes.' Short link : Post Views: 29