Aitana Bonmati: “I Found Myself in a Situation of Suffering; You Feel Alone” – Her Journey Through Illness and Return to Play

Aitana Bonmati’s Health Scare

Aitana Bonmati, the two-time Ballon d’Or champion, experienced a sudden health scare during a key moment of preparation for international soccer. The 27-year-old midfielder had been in Madrid for a few days with the Spanish national team, gearing up for a matchup against Japan prior to their European Championship endeavors.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

On June 26th at around 7 am, Bonmati began to feel ill ahead of an unusually early training session, aimed at evading the sweltering temperatures.

“That’s when I started to feel very ill,”

she recounted in an interview conducted in Lausanne, Switzerland, just days before Spain’s Euro 2025 quarter-final confrontation with the local favorites.

Initially, Bonmati faced debilitating symptoms, such as a persistent headache, which escalated to a level that prompted medical attention. By noon on Friday, her doctor recommended a hospital visit to eliminate more serious conditions beyond a mere cold. A series of medical tests, including a CT scan and blood work, revealed no immediate issues until a lumbar puncture finally diagnosed her with viral meningitis—a less severe form compared to bacterial meningitis, which can have long recovery times.

Team Support and Recovery

While her teammates were engaged in their last match before the Euros, Bonmati was sharing updates from her hospital bed on social media, maintaining a positive outlook with a photo of herself, complete with a flexing emoji, signaling her resilience. Coach Montse Tome expressed the team’s commitment to support her, emphasizing her importance to the squad.

During her hospital stay, Bonmati kept communication open with her doctors and researched her illness, trying to grasp the implications of meningitis, something many are aware of yet few truly understand.

Facing a potentially lengthy absence from the Euro tournament, Bonmati heard alarms ringing. Her medical team estimated she could stay unwell for between five to ten days, with lingering symptoms after that. However, she remained calm, accepting her situation and drawing comfort from the presence of a close friend, Maria, who visited and provided companionship throughout the ordeal.

“I found myself in a situation of suffering… you feel a little alone because you’re not in your close environment,”

she stated, yet she remained optimistic about her recovery, knowing she had always treated her body well.

Return to Training

Just three days later, Bonmati was released from the hospital, shortly before rejoining her team in Lausanne. She noted a remarkable turnaround in her condition, feeling energized rather than sluggish.

“I didn’t have a gradual progression; I went from feeling very bad to feeling fine,”

she explained. At a press conference ahead of Spain’s opening Euro match versus Portugal, Tome remarked on Bonmati’s favorable recovery, but also mentioned the necessity to be cautious in her training regimen to protect her health.

Eager to re-integrate with her teammates, Bonmati began training again in Madrid immediately after her discharge, demonstrating her determination to recover fully. She embraced any opportunity for workout sessions, leveraging her strong physical conditioning to return to her regular fitness. Although she faced frustration with the pace of her recovery, she recognized there needed to be care given the circumstances, comparing her situation to an injury that required patient rehabilitation.

Performance in the Euro Championship

In a surprising development, just six days post-diagnosis, Bonmati made a brief appearance on the field during Spain’s dominant 5-0 victory over Portugal. While she was happy to contribute, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of pride and frustration. Against Belgium, her coach chose to keep her on the bench for that match, prioritizing her physical health for the critical knockout stages ahead.

She later earned her first starting spot during the final group encounter against Italy, leading the team to a 3-1 success. With the knockout phase now approaching, Bonmati is focused on bringing home the one title that still eludes her. Looking ahead, she expressed enthusiasm for the challenging matches to come, particularly against Switzerland, the hosting nation.

Aside from football, Bonmati shared her appreciation for the serene beauty of Switzerland, noting its postcard-perfect landscapes and the tranquility that rejuvenates. Now it’s time for serious business as the quarter-finals kick off, and Bonmati is ready, feeling energized and determined to play her best.