Women's Ballon D'Or Winners Two Years In A Row Attacked By Meningitis

JAKARTA - Midfielder Aitana Bonmati, the 2024 Women's Ballon d'Or winner for the past two years, has been hospitalized for a meningitis virus less than a week before the Spanish National Team (Timnas) began the Euro Women's 2025 campaign.

The 27-year-old missed a 3-1 win on Friday, 27 June 2025, local time, over Japan in a friendly.

The match is part of Spain's preparation for the first match of Group B Euro Women's 2025 against Portugal on July 3, 2025.

Bonmati shared a photo of herself watching a game from a hospital bed in an Instagram story.

"The doctor said that his condition was under control. Talking about meningitis was scary, but his condition was under control."

"Aitana will be treated and there is no deadline to know how long (he will be absent)," Spain coach Montse Tome told reporters after a win against Japan in Leganes.

Bonmati, who is a Barcelona player, also won the FIFA Women's Player of the Year award for 2023 and 2024.

She has scored 30 goals for the Spanish national team in 78 appearances, playing a key role as they won the 2023 Women's World Cup and UEFA Nations League Women's last year.

"Aitana, for us, is a very important player. We will wait for her as long as we can," said Tome.

Spain, which will also meet Belgium and Italy in the group, never made it to the final of the continental championship, reaching the semifinals only once in 1997.