Spain's Bonmati in hospital with viral meningitis
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis.The 27-year-old, who has won the Ballon d'Or for the past two years, missed the 3-1 friendly win over Japan in Leganes, Spain, on Friday.Euro 2025 in Switzerland starts on Wednesday and Spain play Portugal in their opening Group B game in Bern on Thursday.Bonmati, who also won the Fifa women's player of the year award in 2023 and 2024, shared a picture on Instagram of herself watching the Japan match from a hospital bed."Talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled," said coach Montse Tome.
"She is a very important player for us. We'll wait for her as long as we can."Bonmati has scored 30 goals in 78 games for Spain and was a key member of the squad which won the 2023 World Cup and the Nations League last year.Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord and can be serious if not treated quickly.According to the NHS,, external viral meningitis is less serious than the rarer bacterial meningitis. It tends to get better on its own within seven to 10 days and can often be treated at home.
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