Spanish Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati's Euro 2025 in doubt as she is admitted to hospital with 'scary' viral meningitis days before tournament kicks off
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has been hospitalised with viral meningitis just days before Euro 2025 begins.
The two-time Ballon d'Or winner could miss a significant chunk of the tournament, which kicks off in Switzerland on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old didn't train on Thursday because of a fever and was ruled out of a pre-tournament friendly against Japan.
A day later she was admitted to a hospital in Madrid, where she posted a photo of her watching Spain's 3-1 victory from a hospital bed with a cannula in her arm, alongside a flexing arm emoji.
Spain boss Montse Tomé confirmed the star has viral meningitis, adding: 'We can't talk about deadlines' for a return.
'Talking about meningitis can be scary but it is controlled,' she said.
'Aitana, for us, is a very important player, we will wait for her yes as long as we can.
'The information I have told you is what I have and I am not going to explain more, if I said something more I would be wrong.'
The Spanish Football Federation said Bonmatí underwent medical tests after first suffering from a fever.
But the fever remained and more extensive tests were carried out which confirmed she had meningitis, reports in Spain claim.
Viral meningitis typically tends to get better on its own within a week to 10 days, according to the NHS.
Bonmati claimed her second consecutive Ballon d'Or trophy in October.
The midfielder won the league title but missed out on a fourth Champions League to Arsenal
The Barcelona star has scored 30 goals in 78 matches for Spain and was a vital cog in the side which won the 2023 World Cup and last year's Nations League.
She won a sixth league title and fifth Supacopa de Espana this season but was unable to claim a fourth Champions League win after Arsenal beat Barcelona 1-0 in the final last month.
Spain face Portugal in their Euros opener in Group B in Bern on Thursday.
They then take on Belgium on 7 July and Italy four days later.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
3 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Women's Euros forecast to boost UK economy with pubs hoping to serve more pints
Pubs being allowed to stay open later if England or Wales reach the final stages could also reel in more customers. The Uefa Women's Euro 2025 tournament kicks off in Switzerland on July 2, with England's Lionesses and Wales playing their first matches on Saturday July 5. Pubs are hoping to pull an additional 2.6 million extra pints during the tournament, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) found, based on an estimated increase in pub beer sales during matches compared with the annual daily average. The BBPA, whose members brew 90% of British beer and own nearly half of UK pubs, said this could deliver a £13 million boost to the economy. Furthermore, pubs could be allowed to stay open beyond their usual closing time if either of the two countries reach the semi-finals or final of the Euros, which will take place towards the end of July. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: 'The pub has forever been regarded as a home away from home, especially for sports fans, so it's no surprise that fans will be flocking to the pub to cheer on our brilliant teams.' However, Ms McClarkin renewed calls for the Government to 'level the playing field and reduce beer duty', with England and Wales paying the fourth-highest tax rate compared with other nations competing in the tournament, she said. Alcohol duty is paid by manufacturers when they make their products, and the duty is generally then passed on to consumers through prices. Duty on draught pints was cut by 1.7% earlier in the year – meaning a penny off a pint in the pub.
South Wales Guardian
3 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Women's Euros forecast to boost UK economy with pubs hoping to serve more pints
Pubs being allowed to stay open later if England or Wales reach the final stages could also reel in more customers. The Uefa Women's Euro 2025 tournament kicks off in Switzerland on July 2, with England's Lionesses and Wales playing their first matches on Saturday July 5. Pubs are hoping to pull an additional 2.6 million extra pints during the tournament, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) found, based on an estimated increase in pub beer sales during matches compared with the annual daily average. The BBPA, whose members brew 90% of British beer and own nearly half of UK pubs, said this could deliver a £13 million boost to the economy. Furthermore, pubs could be allowed to stay open beyond their usual closing time if either of the two countries reach the semi-finals or final of the Euros, which will take place towards the end of July. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: 'The pub has forever been regarded as a home away from home, especially for sports fans, so it's no surprise that fans will be flocking to the pub to cheer on our brilliant teams.' However, Ms McClarkin renewed calls for the Government to 'level the playing field and reduce beer duty', with England and Wales paying the fourth-highest tax rate compared with other nations competing in the tournament, she said. Alcohol duty is paid by manufacturers when they make their products, and the duty is generally then passed on to consumers through prices. Duty on draught pints was cut by 1.7% earlier in the year – meaning a penny off a pint in the pub.
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Women's Euros forecast to boost UK economy with pubs hoping to serve more pints
Pubs being allowed to stay open later if England or Wales reach the final stages could also reel in more customers. The Uefa Women's Euro 2025 tournament kicks off in Switzerland on July 2, with England's Lionesses and Wales playing their first matches on Saturday July 5. Pubs are hoping to pull an additional 2.6 million extra pints during the tournament, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) found, based on an estimated increase in pub beer sales during matches compared with the annual daily average. The BBPA, whose members brew 90% of British beer and own nearly half of UK pubs, said this could deliver a £13 million boost to the economy. Furthermore, pubs could be allowed to stay open beyond their usual closing time if either of the two countries reach the semi-finals or final of the Euros, which will take place towards the end of July. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: 'The pub has forever been regarded as a home away from home, especially for sports fans, so it's no surprise that fans will be flocking to the pub to cheer on our brilliant teams.' However, Ms McClarkin renewed calls for the Government to 'level the playing field and reduce beer duty', with England and Wales paying the fourth-highest tax rate compared with other nations competing in the tournament, she said. Alcohol duty is paid by manufacturers when they make their products, and the duty is generally then passed on to consumers through prices. Duty on draught pints was cut by 1.7% earlier in the year – meaning a penny off a pint in the pub.
