Spain's two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati hospitalised before Euro 2025
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati missed Spain's last friendly before Euro 2025 kicks off next week, having been taken to hospital after contracting viral meningitis
Spain star Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital after contracting viral meningitis less than a week before the start of Euro 2025. Bonmati, 27, missed Thursday's training session before she was taken to a hospital in Madrid on Friday.
The Barcelona midfielder was forced to miss Spain's final friendly before the tournament in Switzerland, as they beat Japan 3-1. The World Cup holders begin their campaign next Thursday, facing Portugal in Bern.
Bonmati, who's won the Ballon d'Or for the past two years, shared a picture of herself on Instagram, as she watched her team-mates beat Japan from her hospital bed with a cannula in her arm. Spain manager Montse Tome provided an update on Bonmati, who helped Spain follow up their World Cup triumph in 2023 by winning the Nations League last year.
"Initially all the tests came back fine but the last one confirmed she has viral meningitis," Tome, whose side also face Belgium and Italy in Group B, explained. "The word (meningitis) is scary but the doctor tells me it's under control.
"She will remain hospitalised; we don't know the timeline of her recovery. She's an extremely important player for us and we will wait for her, no matter what, as long as we have to."
Bonmati has earned 78 caps for Spain, scoring 30 goals. The Spanish football federation say that she'd been undergoing medical tests after suffering from a fever which failed to subside.
Viral meningitis is caused by an infection and it's more common than the rarer bacterial meningitis. The NHS say that viral meningitis tends to get better within seven to 10 days and can often be treated at home.
Who'll win Euro 2025? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
Bonmati was part of the Spain team who beat England in the final of the World Cup two years ago and Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman has sent her best wishes. "First of all I hope she's alright and I hope she recovers well and that she can come back with the team and play, because everyone wants to see players like Bonmati," Wiegman said.
"You want the best players from Europe being involved in tournaments, because that's exciting, that's what people come to watch - the best players from Europe. So I hope she will be involved and that she will get better soon."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
10 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Guardiola unsure if Club World Cup will affect City's Premier League campaign
Pep Guardiola concedes he does not know if Manchester City's next Premier League challenge will be 'destroyed' by their Club World Cup campaign or not. England manager Thomas Tuchel recently said the involvement of City and Chelsea in this summer's tournament in the United States would hand the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal a 'huge advantage' in the title race. Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has also described the event as 'the worst idea ever implemented in football' because of concerns over player welfare. Guardiola, however, insists City – who face Al-Hilal in a last-16 tie in Orlando on Monday night (2am Tuesday UK) – are focused on rediscovering their best after a frustrating 2024-25 season and claiming the prize. The City manager said: 'I try to relax, enjoy the days here and the good vibes that we have, the competition and we try to win it. 'The most important thing is to recover and find within ourselves what we were. That's my main target in this tournament. 'I want them to feel that this is our path again to be competitive like we have been in eight of the last nine years. 'After this, let's see what happens. Let's see what happens after the final. We will rest for the time the Premier League allow us. 'Maybe in November, December or January it will be a disaster, we are exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us. 'I don't know, it's the first time in our lives that this has happened. We will see when we come back.' Guardiola says he can understand the viewpoint of his old rival Klopp, now head of global soccer for Red Bull, who had a team involved in the tournament in Salzburg. Yet he suggested people complaining might be jealous. Speaking at a press conference, Guardiola said: 'I fought a lot with Jurgen many, many times. I know where his idea comes from. 'I respect him, I would defend his argument as well. At the same time, as managers, we are in a job. We don't organise the competitions. 'Once we are here, we are proud. Many, many teams complain about these competitions because they are not here, otherwise they might love being here.' Weather problems have been a recurring issue in the tournament both in terms of intense heat and thunderstorms. Chelsea's last-16 victory over Benfica on Saturday was suspended for almost two hours due to lightning in the vicinity. Guardiola said: 'I am an extraordinary manager but to control lightning and thunder, still I am not good enough! 'If it is (suspended) here the same reason as why they suspend the other one, I will go inside and we will continue to be active and play again. 'It is not the ideal situation but I grew up to understand not to be worried about the situations that I can't control. So no problem.'
North Wales Chronicle
15 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Women's Euros forecast to boost UK economy with pubs hoping to serve more pints
Pubs being allowed to stay open later if England or Wales reach the final stages could also reel in more customers. The Uefa Women's Euro 2025 tournament kicks off in Switzerland on July 2, with England's Lionesses and Wales playing their first matches on Saturday July 5. Pubs are hoping to pull an additional 2.6 million extra pints during the tournament, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) found, based on an estimated increase in pub beer sales during matches compared with the annual daily average. The BBPA, whose members brew 90% of British beer and own nearly half of UK pubs, said this could deliver a £13 million boost to the economy. Furthermore, pubs could be allowed to stay open beyond their usual closing time if either of the two countries reach the semi-finals or final of the Euros, which will take place towards the end of July. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: 'The pub has forever been regarded as a home away from home, especially for sports fans, so it's no surprise that fans will be flocking to the pub to cheer on our brilliant teams.' However, Ms McClarkin renewed calls for the Government to 'level the playing field and reduce beer duty', with England and Wales paying the fourth-highest tax rate compared with other nations competing in the tournament, she said. Alcohol duty is paid by manufacturers when they make their products, and the duty is generally then passed on to consumers through prices. Duty on draught pints was cut by 1.7% earlier in the year – meaning a penny off a pint in the pub.
South Wales Guardian
16 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Women's Euros forecast to boost UK economy with pubs hoping to serve more pints
Pubs being allowed to stay open later if England or Wales reach the final stages could also reel in more customers. The Uefa Women's Euro 2025 tournament kicks off in Switzerland on July 2, with England's Lionesses and Wales playing their first matches on Saturday July 5. Pubs are hoping to pull an additional 2.6 million extra pints during the tournament, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) found, based on an estimated increase in pub beer sales during matches compared with the annual daily average. The BBPA, whose members brew 90% of British beer and own nearly half of UK pubs, said this could deliver a £13 million boost to the economy. Furthermore, pubs could be allowed to stay open beyond their usual closing time if either of the two countries reach the semi-finals or final of the Euros, which will take place towards the end of July. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: 'The pub has forever been regarded as a home away from home, especially for sports fans, so it's no surprise that fans will be flocking to the pub to cheer on our brilliant teams.' However, Ms McClarkin renewed calls for the Government to 'level the playing field and reduce beer duty', with England and Wales paying the fourth-highest tax rate compared with other nations competing in the tournament, she said. Alcohol duty is paid by manufacturers when they make their products, and the duty is generally then passed on to consumers through prices. Duty on draught pints was cut by 1.7% earlier in the year – meaning a penny off a pint in the pub.
