Latest news with #AitanaBonmatí
CNN
2 hours ago
- Health
- CNN
Reigning Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí hospitalized with meningitis less than a week before Euro 2025
Spanish soccer star Aitana Bonmatí has been hospitalized with viral meningitis just days before the start of the Women's Euros on Wednesday, her manager Montse Tomé said. The 27-year-old had a fever on Thursday evening and was taken to the hospital on Friday when her condition did not improve, according to Tomé. 'She is the first to authorize me to say this and the first who wants it to be said: she has viral meningitis,' Tomé said in a press conference Friday following Spain's 3-1 friendly victory over Japan, which Bonmatí missed. 'The word is definitely scary, but the doctor tells me it is under control,' she continued. 'We don't know the timeframe, we don't know anything else.' On Friday night, Bonmatí posted a picture of herself watching the game against Japan from a hospital bed, with a cannula in her arm. The midfielder is widely considered to have been the best player in women's soccer over the past few years, having been awarded the Ballon d'Or Féminin in both 2023 and 2024. Bonmatí has played a crucial role in the Barcelona team, which has reached five consecutive Women's Champions League finals, winning three. She also has 30 goals in 78 games for her country. The Women's Euros begin in Switzerland on Wednesday when Iceland faces Finland. Spain, the reigning world champion, will play its first game of the tournament against Portugal on Thursday evening. Should Bonmatí remain absent from the team, it appears likely that 18-year-old Vicky López will take her place in the starting XI, having filled in for her in the game against Japan. La Roja has never made it past the semifinals of this competition. The team was knocked out by eventual winner England in the quarterfinals in 2022 after fellow two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) three days before the start of the tournament. Meningitis is a swelling of the protective membranes which cover the brain and spinal cord. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the disease can be very serious, but most people with mild viral meningitis recover with seven to 10 days without the need for treatment.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Spanish Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati's Euro 2025 in doubt as she is admitted to hospital with 'scary' viral meningitis days before tournament kicks off
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has been hospitalised with viral meningitis just days before Euro 2025 begins. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner could miss a significant chunk of the tournament, which kicks off in Switzerland on Wednesday. The 27-year-old didn't train on Thursday because of a fever and was ruled out of a pre-tournament friendly against Japan. A day later she was admitted to a hospital in Madrid, where she posted a photo of her watching Spain's 3-1 victory from a hospital bed with a cannula in her arm, alongside a flexing arm emoji. Spain boss Montse Tomé confirmed the star has viral meningitis, adding: 'We can't talk about deadlines' for a return. 'Talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled,' she said. 'Aitana, for us, is a very important player, we will wait for her yes as long as we can. 'The information I have told you is what I have and I am not going to explain more, if I said something more I would be wrong.' The Spanish Football Federation said Bonmatí underwent medical tests after first suffering from a fever. But the fever remained and more extensive tests were carried out which confirmed she had meningitis, reports in Spain claim. Viral meningitis typically tends to get better on its own within a week to 10 days, according to the NHS. Bonmati claimed her second consecutive Ballon d'Or trophy in October. The midfielder won the league title but missed out on a fourth Champions League to Arsenal The Barcelona star has scored 30 goals in 78 matches for Spain and was a vital cog in the side which won the 2023 World Cup and last year's Nations League. She won a sixth league title and fifth Supacopa de Espana this season but was unable to claim a fourth Champions League win after Arsenal beat Barcelona 1-0 in the final last month. Spain face Portugal in their Euros opener in Group B in Bern on Thursday. They then take on Belgium on 7 July and Italy four days later.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Spain star Aitana Bonmatí hospitalized with meningitis less than a week before Euro 2025
MADRID (AP) — Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, the two-time Ballon d'Or holder, has been hospitalized with viral meningitis less than a week before the Women's European Championship begins. Spain coach Montse Tomé said late on Friday that her star player had felt ill and was taken to a hospital in Madrid where she tested positive for meningitis. Spain's team is set to travel to Switzerland on Sunday for the tournament. Its first game is against Portugal on Thursday in Bern. 'Aitana is a very important player for us and we will wait for her,' Tomé said after Bonmatí missed Friday's friendly against Japan in the Spanish capital when Spain beat the visitors 3-1. 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 in Spain winning the 2023 Women's World Cup. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spain star Aitana Bonmatí hospitalized with meningitis less than a week before Euro 2025
MADRID (AP) — Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, the two-time Ballon d'Or holder, has been hospitalized with viral meningitis less than a week before the Women's European Championship begins. Spain coach Montse Tomé said late on Friday that her star player had felt ill and was taken to a hospital in Madrid where she tested positive for meningitis. Advertisement Spain's team is set to travel to Switzerland on Sunday for the tournament. Its first game is against Portugal on Thursday in Bern. 'Aitana is a very important player for us and we will wait for her,' Tomé said after Bonmatí missed Friday's friendly against Japan in the Spanish capital when Spain beat the visitors 3-1. 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 in Spain winning the 2023 Women's World Cup. ___ AP soccer: The Associated Press
Associated Press
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Spain star Aitana Bonmatí hospitalized with meningitis less than a week before Euro 2025
MADRID (AP) — Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, the two-time Ballon d'Or holder, has been hospitalized with viral meningitis less than a week before the Women's European Championship begins. Spain coach Montse Tomé said late on Friday that her star player had felt ill and was taken to a hospital in Madrid where she tested positive for meningitis. Spain's team is set to travel to Switzerland on Sunday for the tournament. Its first game is against Portugal on Thursday in Bern. 'Aitana is a very important player for us and we will wait for her,' Tomé said after Bonmatí missed Friday's friendly against Japan in the Spanish capital when Spain beat the visitors 3-1. 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 in Spain winning the 2023 Women's World Cup. ___ AP soccer:
