Spain’s Bonmati in hospital with viral meningitis

Aitana Bonmati, a midfielder for Spain, is receiving treatment for viral meningitis.

The 27-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or twice in the past two years, was unavailable for Friday’s 3-1 friendly win over Japan in Leganes, Spain.

Spain play Portugal in their opening Group B game on Thursday in Bern, and Euro 2025 in Switzerland kicks off on Wednesday.

Bonmati, who also won the 2023 and 2024 Fifa women’s player of the year, posted a photo of herself watching the Japan game from a hospital bed.

She was taken to a hospital in Madrid on Friday after being denied a treatment by doctors from the Spanish Football Federation, who later confirmed the diagnosis.

She plays a significant role for us, she said. We’ll be able to wait as long as we can.

Bonmati was a key member of the Spain squad that won the 2023 World Cup and the Nations League last year and has 30 goals in 78 games.

Meningitis affects the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, and if not treated quickly, it can be serious.