Putellas, Guijarro, Lopez and Gonzalez have scored a combined total of nine goals at Euro 2025
Spain’s quest for their inaugural Women’s European Championship title has commenced flawlessly in Switzerland.
Securing three victories, nine points, and an impressive 14 goals, they have comfortably surpassed Portugal, Belgium, and Italy, claiming the top spot in Group B and advancing to the quarter-finals.
Within a Spanish squad brimming with talent, which players have emerged as key contributors?
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Putellas scores ‘lovely team goal’ for Spain
Following her absence from the 2022 Euros due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained just before the tournament, Alexia Putellas is making a significant impact on the European stage.
The Barcelona midfielder earned consecutive player-of-the-match awards with outstanding performances in the 5-0 win over Portugal and the 6-2 victory against Belgium, contributing three goals and three assists across both matches.
She further added two assists in the 3-1 win against Italy, matching Beth Mead’s record for group-stage goal involvements by a single player, set three years prior.
Putellas not only leads in direct goal involvements but also boasts the highest rate of chances created per 90 minutes (five) among all players at Euro 2025.
“She is just impossible to defend against,” former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie told BBC Sport.
“She is so good in possession, she’s got so much awareness, she sort of looks like she’s playing in slow motion but she’s actually just so in control.
“I think the only way to stop her is to limit the ball getting to her because once she has it, she’s just so dangerous.”
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‘What a hit’ – Patri Guijarro gives Spain the lead
As part of a trio with Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, both two-time Ballon d’Or recipients, Patri’s contributions at the base of Spain’s and Barcelona’s midfield often go unnoticed.
However, Corsie highlights the 27-year-old as the one who “runs the show,” adding, “She’s the one… you see she starts everything, she controls the tempo, she chooses when they settle the game down.”
Spain’s coach Montse Tome believes Patri is the “best player in her position”.
“It’s not an easy position because it’s not well recognised from the outside and I believe her personality, she is humble, she is a hard worker and this means Aitana [Bonmati], Alexia [Putellas], Vicky [Lopez], Mariona [Caldentey] and [Claudia] Pina play more freely and Patri is key for that.”
When asked about Tome’s comments, Patri responded, “I feel super happy and super proud knowing the coach said that about me.
“For the game model we have, midfielders have to participate because then everything flows and the team feels confident.”
In addition to dictating the pace and creating opportunities for her teammates, Patri showcased her scoring ability with a precise finish that gave Spain the lead against Italy.
Patri Guijarro’s touch and pass map in Spain’s 6-2 win against Belgium
Vicky Lopez became the youngest player to play for Spain when she made her debut in February 2024, aged 17 years and 210 days
At just 18 years old, Vicky Lopez is already building an impressive club career with Barcelona and is now making her mark for Spain.
With manager Tome opting not to start Bonmati in Spain’s first two matches following her bout of viral meningitis, Lopez was chosen as her replacement.
In La Roja’s opening game against Portugal, Lopez scored after eight minutes, had another attempt saved, and displayed excellent chemistry with Putellas and Pina.
Despite limited playing time against Belgium as Bonmati entered at halftime, Lopez still made an impact by assisting Putellas for their opening goal and forcing a goal-line clearance.
“She plays as if she had 10 years of experience,” Putellas said about the teenager after the Portugal game.
Her flair and fearlessness with the ball have garnered attention from fans and pundits alike, completing 5.1 dribbles per 90 minutes, second only to Germany’s Klara Buhl (6.2).
Corsie noted, “Her ability one v one, she’s great left or right foot, really tricky and also has great awareness.”
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Gonzalez puts Spain in the lead less than a minute after equaliser
While Esther Gonzalez may not be the most recognizable name in a Spanish team full of stars, her prolific goal-scoring record of 36 goals in 53 appearances for her country speaks for itself.
Leading the tournament’s scoring charts with four goals, the 32-year-old needed just 87 seconds to open her account at the Euros with a stunning flicked volley against Portugal.
She added a second with a poacher’s finish from close range, showcased her clinical prowess with a decisive strike against Belgium, and demonstrated her positional awareness with a poked finish from close range against Italy.
“One of the things I think she does most effectively is she’s always on the back shoulder,” Corsie said.
“She’s so good at just creating an extra yard for herself by always trying to play off the shoulder, knowing that if the ball goes wide and then gets delivered into the box, she’ll always have an extra yard on you.”
Gonzalez averages 2.3 goals every 90 minutes, surpassing any other player who has played over 100 minutes at Euro 2025.
“Esther is playing at an excellent level at all levels,” Tome said of the Gotham FC striker.
“She has whatever what you may need from a tactical point of view because of her experience and with her energy. “