Bonmati hospitalised with viral meningitis ahead of Euro 2025
Spain have confirmed Aitana Bonmati is being treated for viral meningitis ahead of their bid to win a first European Championship crown.
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati is being treated in hospital for viral meningitis, five days out from their Euro 2025 opener.
Bonmati, a back-to-back winner of the Ballon d'or Feminin, claimed the Golden Ball as Spain won the World Cup for the first time in 2023.
The Barcelona star is seen as one of the players to watch at the upcoming tournament in Switzerland, where Spain will face Portugal, Belgium and Italy in Group B.
On Friday, Bonmati took to Instagram to share a photo of herself watching La Roja's 3-1 friendly win over Japan from a hospital bed.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) subsequently confirmed her diagnosis in a statement, saying: "After the medical tests carried out on the international Aitana Bonmati, the FC Barcelona and Spanish National Team player has been diagnosed with viral meningitis, pending evolution.
"For this reason, the footballer was unable to play this Friday in the preparatory match in which Spain beat Japan by three goals to one at the Butarque stadium in Leganes."
After Spain's victory, which saw Claudia Pina, Vicky Lopez and Athenea del Castillo get on the scoresheet, coach Montse Tome said: "Talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled.
"She is a very important player for us. We'll wait for her as long as we can."
While Bonmati is now a doubt for Spain's opening game against Portugal on July 3, La Roja are hopeful she could return to face Belgium on July 7 or Italy four days later.
