In Sant Pere de Ribes, Spain, a mural boldly declares, ‘Win or learn. You never lose.’ This small town, home to around 30,000 people and located 25 miles from Barcelona, celebrates its local hero, Aitana Bonmatí Conca, who stands proud clutching a Ballon d’Or trophy in one arm, while she embraces a younger version of herself with the other.
Aitana Bonmatí’s journey to becoming one of the world’s best women’s soccer players began in this quaint town, merely 670 miles away from where she now aims for a new milestone: Spain’s first UEFA women’s Euro title in Switzerland. Just ahead of the tournament, Bonmatí made a comeback to the Spanish national team after recovering from a bout of viral meningitis.
Her path has been anything but linear. As a child, she was often the sole girl in her local community playing soccer among boys. Recalling her beginnings, Bonmatí shared, “My first memory is playing soccer in the schoolyard of Escola El Pi.” She noticed that times have significantly changed: “When I was young, I didn’t have the chance to look into the future and see [female] role models to aspire to.”
Bonmatí grew up in a household where perseverance was key and speaking up for one’s values was a fundamental part of life. Notably, her parents broke traditions early on by choosing to reverse the standard Spanish naming convention, allowing Bonmatí to carry her mother’s surname as her first name – a symbolic nod to gender equality.
This theme of equality resonated throughout Bonmatí’s life choices. After initially being the only girl on boys’ teams in her hometown, she made the pivotal decision to join Barcelona’s female academy, known as the Barcelona Femení Academy, at just 14 years old. Worn by the prestigious colors of her beloved club, she was thrilled to follow the footsteps of her childhood idols, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi, whom she watched frequently on TV from her village bar.
However, this opportunity was not without complications. At that time, Barcelona did not possess a fully professional women’s team, and the mere thought of playing at Camp Nou was still a distant dream for aspiring female soccer players. Bonmatí once considered a move to the University of Oregon in the United States, where women’s soccer had already gained considerable respect, but she ultimately chose to stay with Barcelona.
Just three years later, in the summer of 2015, her decision paid off. Barcelona’s board took a historic step by turning the women’s team professional, and Bonmatí quickly earned her spot on the first squad, allowing her to carve out her legacy as a role model she wished she had during her youth.
Bonmatí reflects, “I think that women’s football has grown a lot [in Spain] in the last six or seven years. I think Barça has played a fundamental role because since we won the Champions League and since they have bet on us, we have been the most recognized team in Europe and the world.”
The statistics affirm her words: Barcelona Femení has secured six league titles (Liga F), three UEFA Women’s Champions League victories (reaching six of the last seven finals), seven national cups (Copa de la Reina), and five Spanish Super Cups. This track record has propelled the team into global stardom.
“It’s a privilege to have become a role model for so many girls and boys,” Bonmatí expressed. “Today I can see many people wearing my jersey in Barcelona or around the world, and this is something unique that was impossible to imagine just a few years ago.”
The meteoric rise of women’s soccer is evident, with Barcelona breaking world attendance records for women’s matches twice in less than a month in 2022. Over 91,000 fans flocked to Camp Nou for two vital Champions League matches, an achievement that resonated deeply beyond just winning titles.
“What we have generated at the social level in Barcelona, filling the Camp Nou every now and then, and having a lot of fans at the Estadi Johan Cruyff [the women’s team’s home stadium] every week,” Bonmatí remarked, “I believe it’s almost impossible for any other team.”
The remarkable Barcelona squad was instrumental in Spain’s historic first World Cup win in 2023, during which Bonmatí was awarded the Golden Ball trophy for being the tournament’s best player. As a midfield maestro, she controls the game’s tempo with her possession skills while distinctly directing teammates with a unique arm gesture when off the ball.
“My dad says that I look like a policewoman directing the traffic, because I spend a lot of time directing the game with my arms,” Bonmatí explained. “I believe this is part of my game and of my leadership, of how I see football. I constantly scan the game and what is happening on the pitch, I evaluate all the possibilities and try to find the best solution.”
From the girl who once longed to join the local team to being hailed as one of the finest players in the sport, Bonmatí shares a connection with her idol Iniesta, as she donned the same No. 6 jersey for Spain’s World Cup-winning team. Unlike 2010, when the male version of champions was sung, the victory was celebrated with “Campeonas del Mundo,” choosing the feminine chant this time.
“As a soccer player, the best that can happen to you is winning the Champions League with your club and the World Cup with your national team. It was an unforgettable day,” Bonmatí reflected. “We played in Sydney, and I don’t even know how many miles from home we were. In a full stadium, after a month and a half of training and a month of tournament. These feelings are really hard to describe, you need to feel them.”
The World Cup win is even more poignant given the tumultuous lead-up period, characterized by a significant background issue. Months before departing to New Zealand, Bonmatí was part of a group of 15 players who declared themselves unavailable for selection. They cited that the head coach, Jorge Vilda, was adversely impacting their health and emotional well-being. It wasn’t until many discussions later, motivated by the ambition to represent their country in the most prominent tournament, that Bonmatí and seven others became eligible again.
Despite the challenges, this unified team managed to achieve a common goal that surpassed expectations, even for Bonmatí. “It was a surprise for us and for everyone. We faced a complicated season, and we weren’t so close as a team for everything that happened in the previous year. Many times we say that together we are stronger, and in theory, it’s true, but it wasn’t the case for our squad competing in the World Cup,” she shared. “The year leading [up] to the tournament was tough, and we managed to succeed because everyone, individually, showed the best version of ourselves. It was a combination of talent and the best version of each one of us, and then the stars were aligned.”
The aftermath of the win, however, was overshadowed by an incident involving the then-president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, who faced backlash after publicly kissing Spain forward Jennifer Hermoso without her consent.
“Unfortunately we haven’t been able to truly enjoy this achievement because of everything that happened,” Bonmatí lamented. “So I hope the future will bring us better celebrations than the one we had, because moments like these should be enjoyed not just that day, but every day that follows—and sadly, we weren’t able to celebrate it.”
Following the scandal, Rubiales resigned and received a three-year ban from FIFA. In their subsequent match against Sweden, marked by their newly minted World Cup-winning status, the team displayed solidarity by raising their fists with Hermoso’s No. 10 inscribed on their wrists and holding a banner that stated: #SeAcabó, which translates to “It’s All Over.” For Bonmatí and her teammates, silence was never an option.
With two FIFA Ballon d’Or awards captured in the past two years, Bonmatí has undoubtedly solidified her reputation as a top athlete. Yet her influence transcends her accolades, positioning her as one of the most significant figures in women’s sports in modern history.
Even amidst her greatest accomplishments—like her recent speech at the Théâtre du Châtelet during the FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony—she remains grounded in what holds true value: her team and the ongoing quest for equality.
“I always say I have a responsibility that goes beyond the playing field. I know I have a voice that’s heard and that carries weight. I try to use it to speak up for better conditions or for causes that matter—but the truth is, we need the backing of the institutions that really have the power to make change,” she emphasized. “For me, it’s about belief. When institutions truly believe in what they stand for, when they fight with conviction and consistency, things move forward. But when they act out of obligation, just to tick a box, things rarely go well.”
With the weight of her prestigious title comes a burden of responsibility, yet Bonmatí is exceptionally equipped to navigate this challenge as she emerges as a global face for women’s soccer. Through initiatives like her campus for boys and girls in Sant Pere de Ribes and various sponsorship deals, Bonmatí aims to promote the values she holds dear.
“For me, it’s a privilege to have become a role model for so many boys and girls, and I’d like to make an impact on society not only through what I have achieved in football, but also through the values I represent,” she asserted.
Today, the children of her hometown—especially girls—look up to a globally recognized hero they can encounter on the streets. Now, girls around the world find a figure they can emulate while playing soccer in their schoolyards, dreaming of a full stadium chanting their names.
Aitana Bonmatí and her generation have opened doors that will remain ajar long after they conclude their playing careers, but she acknowledges that much work remains. “I believe a lot has been left undone. Although we have achieved major milestones, the moment hasn’t been fully capitalized on to create a true impact on society, like what happened in England after they won the Euros in 2022, or what the U.S. has been doing for years.”
Looking ahead, the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championships present a significant opportunity for Bonmatí and Spain, as they aim to make history by securing the title for the first time.
“It’s one of the few competitions I have yet to win, so trying to lift that trophy is one of my goals,” Bonmatí concluded, embodying the spirit mirrored in the mural—’Win or learn, you never lose.’
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