From Hospital Bed to Euro Hero – Spain’s Bonmati Back to Her Best

“You could write a book about this,” said Aitana Bonmati on Wednesday as she reflected on the last few weeks in her life after scoring the goal that took Spain into the final of the Women’s Euro 2025.

At the end of June, the world’s leading women’s footballer was lying in hospital with viral meningitis, and it looked like she might not be able to play for Spain at the tournament in Switzerland.

Now, she is preparing to lead her team into Sunday’s final against England in Basel, in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup decider, which Spain won, after converting the only goal of the last-four clash with Germany late in extra time.

“When the ball went in, I started running around like a crazy person. I didn’t know where to go,” a smiling Bonmati said as she spoke to the media at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich after collecting the trophy for player of the match.

“It is so special to score in games like these, and if I can help the team to keep making history, that is very special indeed.”

Barcelona midfielder Bonmati, who has won the Ballon d’Or in each of the last two years, was taken to hospital at the end of June after reporting feeling unwell.

Tests confirmed that she was suffering from a bout of viral meningitis, and Bonmati could only watch from bed as her teammates beat Japan in a friendly.

Viral meningitis is less serious than the rarer bacterial variant, which can lead to death within 24 hours, but it still seemed like a long shot for her to recover in time for the Euros.

Yet she did recover, and appeared as a late substitute in Spain’s opening game at the tournament, a 5-0 win over Portugal in Bern on July 3.

The 27-year-old was back in the starting lineup for their final group match, a 3-1 victory over Italy, and retained her place for the quarterfinal against the host nation before scoring the winner against Germany.

Barcelona midfielder Bonmati, who has won the Ballon d’Or in each of the last two years, was taken to hospital at the end of June after reporting feeling unwell.

Tests confirmed that she was suffering from a bout of viral meningitis, and Bonmati could only watch from bed as her teammates beat Japan in a friendly.

Viral meningitis is less serious than the rarer bacterial variant, which can lead to death within 24 hours, but it still seemed like a long shot for her to recover in time for the Euros.

Yet she did recover, and appeared as a late substitute in Spain’s opening game at the tournament, a 5-0 win over Portugal in Bern on July 3.

The 27-year-old was back in the starting lineup for their final group match, a 3-1 victory over Italy, and retained her place for the quarterfinal against the host nation before scoring the winner against Germany.

- Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies