Barcelona star Bonmatí out five months

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí will be sidelined for about five months after undergoing surgery for a fractured left fibula, the club said. The injury occurred during a Spanish national team training session ahead of the second leg of the Women’s Nations League final, after Bonmatí had featured in the goalless first leg in Kaiserslautern. Surgery was performed successfully by Dr. Antoni Dalmau in Barcelona, with medical staff projecting a recovery timeline that will keep her out until early May 2026.

The 27-year-old is a central figure for both club and country: a three-time Ballon d’Or winner, Bonmatí has helped Spain to World Cup glory and lifted last year’s Nations League trophy — in which she scored in the final — and has collected three UEFA Women’s Champions League titles and six domestic league crowns with Barcelona. Her creativity, goal threat and leadership from midfield have been integral to Barcelona Femení’s tactical identity, and her absence represents a major setback for the club’s ambitions in domestic and European competitions this season.

For the Spanish national team, losing one of their most influential playmakers ahead of crucial fixtures, including the concluding Nations League match against Germany, forces coach staff to reshuffle midfield responsibilities and rely on alternatives to retain control and creativity in the center of the park. Bonmatí’s ability to link play, penetrate defences and contribute decisively in high-stakes matches will be missed in both transitional and attacking phases, prompting tactical adjustments and increased playing time for squad peers.

Bonmatí posted on social media acknowledging the injury and surgery, saying she will use the recovery period to heal “physically and mentally,” framing the hiatus as an abrupt but necessary pause. Barcelona’s medical team will oversee a rehabilitation program aimed at restoring full strength, mobility and match fitness, with return-to-play protocols that typically progress from controlled physiotherapy and conditioning to on-field drills and incremental involvement in training before clearance for competitive matches.

Her projected early-May return could allow participation in the decisive run-in of club and international calendars, offering a potential late-season boost if rehabilitation proceeds without setbacks. In the interim, Barcelona must adapt its midfield structure and rotation to compensate for the loss of a world-class creator, while Spain will explore alternative formations or personnel to preserve their competitive edge. The club and national team will monitor progress closely and update timelines if recovery accelerates or complications arise.