Aitana Bonmatí Eager to "Enjoy Football Again" After Injury Layoff

As the new football season approaches, FC Barcelona Femení's influential midfielder, Aitana Bonmatí, has expressed a profound desire to "enjoy football again." This sentiment follows a demanding period that saw her sidelined for five months during the 2025/26 season due to injury, a personal challenge set against the backdrop of her club's historic achievements.

Bonmatí sustained a fractured fibula in early December 2025, an injury that kept her off the pitch until April 2026. Her return to competitive action came as a second-half substitute in BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona's UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final victory over Bayern MunichTeam·Bayern Munich on May 3, 2026, a match they won 4-2. Reflecting on her comeback, Bonmatí articulated the depth of her experience.

"It's difficult to explain the feelings I have right now, there was no better day to come back," Bonmatí stated. "The last five months have been hard but also gratifying; a different challenge in my career. I think it has served me as both a footballer and as a person."

Her return dovetailed with a period of unparalleled success for FC Barcelona Femení. The 2025/26 season saw the Catalan giants secure a historic quadruple, clinching the Liga FCompetition·Liga F title for the seventh consecutive season and eleventh time overall on April 22, 2026. They finished atop Liga FCompetition·Liga F with a dominant record of 29 wins, 0 draws, and 1 loss, accumulating 87 points. Beyond domestic league success, BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona also lifted the Copa de la ReinaCompetition·Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de España Femenina on January 24, 2026, and the coveted UEFA Women's Champions League on May 23, 2026, defeating Lyon 4-0 in the final. This remarkable haul marked the team's third continental treble and second continental quadruple in their history.

Bonmatí acknowledged the team's consistent excellence, stating, "I'm really happy for the team. They have had a spectacular season and all that is left is to put the cherry on top of the cake. Six finals in a row is crazy – I think we have normalised something that is absolutely not normal. It says everything about the ambition and character of this team. Players and seasons come and go but we're still here, keeping the bar high and always wanting to be in the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League final."

Despite her significant time away from the pitch, Bonmatí's individual contributions in the 2025/26 Liga FCompetition·Liga F season remained notable. She recorded 7 goals and 3 assists in just 911 minutes played, maintaining an impressive average FotMob rating of 7.61. Her consistent high-level performance was further recognized when she was named The Best FIFA Women's Player of the year for 2025 for the third consecutive year in December 2025.

As the new season dawns, Bonmatí's focus on rediscovering the pure joy of the game, combined with BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona's relentless pursuit of silverware, sets the stage for another compelling chapter in women's football. Her personal journey of recovery and reflection now converges with the collective ambition of a team that continues to redefine success.