2026, JANUARY 19 – One day after her 28th birthday, Aitana Bonmatí reflected on the most serious injury of her career, saying it has brought perspective rather than frustration. The FC Barcelona Femení and Spain midfielder is recovering from a fractured left fibula sustained in late November, describing the lay-off as “a breather” after years of accumulated physical and mental demands, rather than the “catastrophe” it might normally be perceived as.
“When you suffer a serious injury, it seems like you’re supposed to be devastated, but for me it was the opposite,” Bonmatí said during a media session organised by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), which recently named her Best Female Athlete of 2025. “I was the player who had accumulated the most minutes in recent years. It’s a sign that I’d been carrying a very high physical and mental load.”
The three-time Ballon d’Or Féminin and The Best FIFA Women’s Player winner said her recovery is progressing as expected and estimates she could return in around two and a half months, while stressing that there is no fixed date. “I’m calm – the injury is like a pause,” Bonmatí said. “I’m taking it as a break to regain energy and come back better.”
Bonmatí added that her main objective is to return fully recovered rather than rushing the process, noting that elite sport rarely allows time to stop. “The career of an athlete is very intense,” she said. “You don’t have time to stop either the body or the mind.”
She revealed that she is enjoying the pause from playing, spending time with friends and family and reading books about World War II in between treatments, rehab, and lessons to improve her English. “The sports life, it’s so intense, and you never have time to stop – not only to stop the body, but also the mind, because it’s hard,” she said.
Reflecting on her broader journey, Bonmatí highlighted her mentality as one of her key strengths and expressed gratitude to Barcelona, where she has spent the past 14 years. “I’ve worked extremely hard to get here,” she said. Asked about her future, she said she is not considering leaving the club, while acknowledging that football careers are unpredictable and that she prefers not to rule out possibilities entirely.
The session also turned to the wider state of women’s football. Bonmatí praised the growth of the game in Mexico, pointing to a clear institutional commitment that has driven rapid development in recent years.
By contrast, she was critical of the structure of women’s football in Spain. While acknowledging progress, she said development has largely been driven by Barcelona and the national team. “Giant steps have been taken in recent years, but only by two teams, Barça and the national team,” she said. “There is no clear infrastructure for Spanish football to continue growing.”
Bonmatí called for concrete action rather than rhetoric from governing bodies, stressing the need for better infrastructure, increased resources, and a genuinely competitive professional league. “We need actions, not words – from the government to Liga F – if women’s football is really going to evolve,” she said. She admitted to feeling frustration at repeatedly raising the same concerns without seeing meaningful change, warning that the growing number of Spanish players seeking opportunities abroad reflects deeper structural problems. “Something isn’t being done right when so many players are leaving to look for challenges elsewhere,” Bonmatí said. “A lot of talent is being lost and not used properly.”
The Barcelona midfielder also spoke about her role beyond the pitch, saying she views her visibility not as pressure, but as responsibility. She believes the current generation of players has a unique opportunity to influence society and open doors for those who follow. “I feel that with my voice I can reach a lot of people,” she said. “I always try to help the groups that need it.”
Asked about emerging talents, Bonmatí described Real Madrid CF Femenino and Colombia forward Linda Caicedo as an exceptional player, while urging caution against placing excessive pressure on young footballers.
For Bonmatí, the enforced break has reinforced a broader perspective – one in which recovery, reflection, and long-term growth matter as much as immediate success.
