Five Rising Stars in Spanish Women's Football.

In Spanish women's football, several young talents are making a name for themselves with their skill and dedication. These players are not only standing out in their clubs but are also poised to be the future stars of the Spanish National Team. Here, we highlight five of these promising footballers who are already making a significant impact on the pitch.

Vicky López

An inflatable boat, a refusal, a persistent woman, and innate talent define the past of Vicky López and her rise to the elite. Against the Netherlands on February 23rd, the Barça player became one of the youngest players (17 years and 212 days) to debut with the national team. Her football skills, innocence, and maturity (beyond her years) grabbed all the headlines. "I found out about the call-up while studying for an exam," Vicky López confessed a few days ago. Here is a journey to the origins of one of the most talked-about footballers in world football through her discoverer: Alba Mellado.

Sometimes, in Vicky López's precocious football career, daily responsibilities of a 17-year-old girl get in the way. The Barça and national team player, who will turn 18 next July, received another call-up for the senior team to play in the two matches against Denmark for the Euro 2025 qualifiers, but she will leave the camp after the first match. Montse Tomé revealed the reason in the press conference after announcing the squad: she has to take her university entrance exams.

Besides football, Vicky López also grew up riding horses, as she confessed to Relevo. She never competed in equestrian sports because she chose football, a decision her achievements validate. Last February, she became the youngest player to debut with the senior team. She did so in the Women's Nations League semifinal against the Netherlands, where Spain secured their place in the final.

At 17, she is gaining quality minutes, and every time she steps onto the field, she has a clear objective. In her debut under Montse Tomé, the national coach asked her to "hold onto the ball a bit more" and "calm the game." In the first leg of the Women's Champions League, where Barça lost 0-1 to Chelsea, Vicky was the third substitute introduced by Jonatan Giráldez and managed to revolutionise the team's play.

Alba Cerrato

The jewel of Sevilla that already shines with Spain, Alba Cerrato is the killer of the Rojita. The Spanish women's national team accumulates successes at the highest level and in lower categories, the latest being the U-17 European Championship with Alba Cerrato playing a key role. Born in 2007 in Córdoba, Cerrato caught the attention of Sevilla's academy after excelling in the Andalusian Infantil league against boys.

Last season, she became the first-ever female player in Sevilla's residency, and on May 5, 2023, the club signed her first professional contract. She has shone brightly with the Spanish U-17 team, scoring 10 goals in 6 matches during the Euro qualifiers and 7 goals in 5 matches in the tournament to secure her second U-17 European Championship. She has also debuted with Sevilla in the Liga F. Alba Cerrato is the future killer for Sevilla and the Spanish national team, destined to continue reaping success. Follow us to discover the best young talents in world football.

Sara Ortega

Sara Ortega, from Athletic, is 18 years old and debuted in the first team shortly before turning 17 in a Copa match against Racing de Santander in Torrelavega, where she scored her first goal. That season, she participated in 11 matches as a starter and 4 as a substitute, scoring a goal while still playing with the reserves in the 1ª RFEF.

This season, she is establishing herself in the Primera, and despite her youth, she is becoming a vital player for her coach. Moreover, Sara is from La Rioja and already has a World Cup and a European Championship in her record with the Spanish national team.

Fiamma Benítez

Fiamma Benítez, from Valencia, is 19 years old and chose to play for Spain over Argentina (she has always wanted to succeed with Spain despite her Argentine origins). Fiamma Benítez is a regular starter for Valencia and a midfielder for the Spanish national team. "Fiamma is a hardworking and skillful attacking midfielder who can also play deep and wide, and she has a great goal-scoring instinct," reads UEFA's website. The top European football body includes the Valencia player among the 10 young footballers to watch in 2024.

The attacker, born to Argentine parents, is a regular in the lower categories of the national team, with which she has won two European Championships and a World Cup, and two years ago, she made the jump to the senior team. Fiamma debuted against Argentina on November 11, 2022. Recently, she participated in Montse Tomé's latest match, the epic victory at La Rosaleda against Sweden. She was crucial, coming onto the field in the 60th minute and scoring in the 81st, netting the 4-3.

Despite her youth, the Denia native is in her second season with Valencia. She has been one of the most important players for the team since joining two seasons ago. The attacking midfielder has played almost every match.

Júlia Bartel

Júlia Bartel, born in 2004, has been the fifth-youngest player to debut with Barça.

When Júlia Bartel joined FC Barcelona's academy in 2019, Aitana Bonmatí was starting to become a key player in the first team. That young midfielder from Castellbisbal did not know then that her idol would become her mentor and great support.

Today, she competes in Barça Atlètic Femenino, the reserve team of the first squad coached by Jonatan Giráldez. The midfielder, considered the 'new' Aitana Bonmatí, has already been approached by City to join the English club this upcoming summer of 2024.

"Modest, hardworking, respectful, well-mannered, disciplined, and with a delightful family" - that's how those around her describe her. She has started a physical preparation reinforcement program this year and is growing. In the last international break, she was called up to the U-23 national team and played 163 minutes in two matches.