Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati to undergo surgery on broken leg – and faces race against time for Spain’s World Cup qualifier with England in April
Three-time Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Aitana Bonmati is set to undergo surgery after fracturing her leg in training while on international duty with Spain.
The 27-year-old is expected to miss a significant portion of the season after sustaining the injury – potentially including Spain’s World Cup qualifier against England next April.
On Sunday, reports from the training camp in Madrid’s Las Rozas indicated that Bonmati had fallen awkwardly during a practice session with the national team.
Spain were preparing for the second leg of their Uefa Women’s Nations League final against Germany at Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday, after the midfielder played 77 minutes of last Friday’s goalless draw in Kaiserslautern.
Her club then confirmed on Monday that she had suffered a fractured fibula and would undergo surgery on Tuesday at the Hospital de Barcelona. The recovery time is expected to be at least three months.
Spain manager Sonia Bermudez, appointed after the final defeat in August, said the side want to dedicate what they hope will be a victory to Bonmati.
The 27-year-old is expected to miss a significant portion of the season after sustaining the injury – potentially including Spain’s World Cup qualifier against England next April
Spain were preparing for the second leg of their Uefa Women’s Nations League final against Germany on Tuesday, after the midfielder played 77 minutes of last Friday’s goalless draw
Bonmati was also named the Champions League’s player of the season by UEFA
‘Aitana wanted to stay for the final and be with us,’ Bermudez said. ‘We told her she had to return to Barcelona to begin her recovery because, for us, the health of our players comes first.
‘We want to dedicate tomorrow’s victory to her.’
Spain captain Irene Paredes – who also plays alongside Bonmati at Barcelona – said: ‘Absences like Aitana’s can unsettle you because no one likes seeing a team-mate hurt or injured.
‘(Her) absence is a significant loss for the national team and for Barca as well. I personally didn’t see what happened but she told me about it.
‘You could see the pain in her eyes and it was clear something serious had occurred. I’m sending her lots of encouragement and wishing her a full recovery, and we’ll keep pushing.’
It is a disappointing end to an otherwise stellar year for Bonmati, who became the first player to win the women’s Ballon d’Or three times, achieved a domestic treble and reached the Champions League final with Barca as well as the Euro 2025 final with the national team.
Bonmati was touch and go for this summer’s European Championships after contracting viral meningitis on the eve of the tournament.
Bonmati was touch and go for this summer’s European Championships after contracting viral meningitis on the eve of the tournament – but recovered quickly in time to play the first game
It is a disappointing end to an otherwise stellar year for Bonmati, who became the first player to win the women’s Ballon d’Or three times as well as achieving a domestic treble with Barcelona
She recovered quickly, though, and played a pivotal role in guiding the world champions to the final – which they lost to England on penalties – and was awarded Player of the Tournament.
Bonmati was also named the Champions League’s player of the season by UEFA.
Barcelona are six points clear at the top of Liga F after winning 11 of their opening 12 league matches, and also top the Champions League standings with 10 points from four matches.
Bonmati, who came through the ranks of Barcelona’s academy, has provided six goals and three assists in the women’s top flight this season.
