Aitana Bonmati, who won the Ballon d’Or for the past two years and two-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year for 2023-2024, has been admitted to the hospital and is undergoing treatment for viral meningitis.
The 27-year-old, who has claimed the Ballon d’Or for the past two years, was unable to participate in the 3-1 friendly victory against Japan in Leganes, Spain, on Friday.
Euro 2025 in Switzerland kicks off on Wednesday, with Spain set to face Portugal in their opening Group B match in Bern on Thursday.
Bonmati, who also received the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year award in 2023 and 2024, posted a photo on Instagram showing herself watching the Japan match from her hospital bed.
She did not train on Thursday and was admitted to a Madrid hospital on Friday, where doctors from the Spanish Football Federation confirmed her diagnosis.
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“Discussing meningitis can be frightening, but it is manageable,” said coach Montse Tome. “She is a crucial player for us, and we will support her for as long as we can.”
Bonmati has netted 30 goals in 78 appearances for Spain and played a vital role in the team’s victories in the 2023 World Cup and last year’s Nations League.
Meningitis is an infection affecting the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and it can be serious if not treated promptly.
According to the NHS, viral meningitis is generally less severe than the rarer bacterial form and often resolves on its own within seven to ten days, with many cases manageable at home.
