Ballon d’Or winner hospitalised in Meningitis scare

Aitana Bonmatí, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner and star midfielder for Spain and Barcelona, has been diagnosed with viral meningitis, prompting her hospitalization and absence from Spain’s recent 3-1 victory over Japan at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque.

The news, first reported by Marca, has raised concerns among fans as the Spanish national team prepares for their upcoming Euros campaign.

Bonmatí, 27, initially reported a fever and missed training on Thursday. After undergoing multiple medical tests, she was diagnosed with viral meningitis and is currently receiving intravenous treatment.

The midfielder shared a photo on Instagram, where she has 1.9 million followers, showing herself in a hospital bed with an IV drip, watching Spain’s match against Japan.

Accompanying the post was a flexing arm emoji, signaling her resilience and determination to recover.

According to Marca, there is no set return date for Bonmatí, though there is optimism she may recover in time for Spain’s Euros opener against Portugal on July 3, following their travel to Switzerland.

Spain’s head coach, Montse Tomé, emphasized Bonmatí’s importance to the team, stating, “Aitana is a very important player, and we’re going to wait for her until the end.”

Tomé added that she is not a medical expert and could not provide a specific recovery timeline, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the midfielder’s condition.

Bonmatí has been a cornerstone of Spain’s success, earning 76 caps and scoring 30 goals for her country.

She played a pivotal role in Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup triumph over England and has claimed the women’s Ballon d’Or in both 2023 and 2024.

Her club career with Barcelona is equally illustrious, with 318 appearances, 112 goals, and a trophy cabinet boasting three Champions League titles, six Liga F championships, and numerous other honors.

Beyond her on-field achievements, Bonmatí has been a vocal advocate for change in Spanish football. In February, she supported the conviction of former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales for sexual assault following his non-consensual kiss of Jenni Hermoso after the 2023 World Cup.

Bonmatí described the ruling, which resulted in an £8,274 fine for Rubiales, as setting an “important precedent” for addressing misconduct in the sport.