Aitana Bonmatís decisive overtime goal in the semifinal against Germany – an artistic goal where she found the net completely without angle – was as much a nation's victory as a personal triumph.
The Spanish midfielder star – a two-time Ballon d'Or winner in everyday life in Barcelona – was hospitalized just a few days before the European Championship premiere.
I was alone and a lifelong friend, Maria, came (to the hospital). She came on Saturday and stayed until Sunday. She slept in the room with me, she said in an interview with The Athletic and explained further:
I was in a painful situation. When something happens that you do not understand, you feel a little alone when you are not in your home environment. But I am grateful that Maria supported me.
Jumped in six days after diagnosis
Aitana Bonmatí recovered quickly. Six days after the diagnosis, she jumped in from the bench in Spain's meeting with Portugal and then started the group final against Italy.
It was not easy for Bonmatí in the beginning of the tournament, but she has a special personality that can perform at the highest level, said Spain's national team coach Montse Tomé to BBC afterwards.
Never worried about the European Championship
Aitana Bonmatí was born in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Catalonia. She started playing in her local club as a seven-year-old, where she was the only girl together with 400 boys. She was recruited to Barcelona's youth academy as a teenager and signed a professional contract with the club in 2015. Since then, she has won five league titles and three Champions League titles.
In 2023, she won the World Championship gold with Spain. Now she has the chance to secure the country's first European Championship gold in the national team's first European Championship final.
I never thought about whether I would come back or not because I was confident that I would get through it, said Bonmatí about the hospital stay. Not for a single moment did I think that I would miss the European Championship.
The final match against England will be decided at St Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, with kickoff at 6 pm this evening.
