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Mariona Caldentey has her sights set on UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 glory with Spain — and possibly Ballon d’Or honours — after an extraordinary debut season with Arsenal Women.
The versatile 29-year-old forward heads into Spain’s second Group B match against Belgium on Monday with momentum firmly on her side. After lifting the UEFA Women’s Champions League title with Arsenal and being named Women’s Super League Player of the Year, Caldentey is being touted as a strong contender to break the Ballon d’Or dominance of fellow Spaniards Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí.
Key Takeaways
- Mariona Caldentey has her sights set on UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 glory with Spain — and possibly Ballon d’Or honours — after an extraordinary debut season with Arsenal Women.
- The versatile 29-year-old forward heads into Spain’s second Group B match against Belgium on Monday with momentum firmly on her side.
- Spain, the reigning world champions, made an emphatic start to their Euro 2025 campaign with a 5-0 demolition of Portugal and are strong favourites to go all the way in Switzerland.
“Obviously it’s an honour and a privilege to have your name mentioned for such a big award, but right now what I have to do is play well at the Euros,” Caldentey told AFP.
Returning to the national team setup with a host of familiar faces from her time at Barcelona, Caldentey brings not only experience but a new edge to La Roja, shaped by her season in England’s fast-paced, physical league.
Spain, the reigning world champions, made an emphatic start to their Euro 2025 campaign with a 5-0 demolition of Portugal and are strong favourites to go all the way in Switzerland. Caldentey, who has 29 goals in international football, believes the team’s confidence is not arrogance but readiness.
“We see it more as a privilege. We’ve become accustomed to the pressure — we are a super-complete team with a lot of weapons.”
Her move to Arsenal, which she likens to an “Erasmus” experience, allowed her to step outside her comfort zone and learn a new style of play — faster, more physical, and with frequent transitions. Despite that, she still connects with the “Barcelona DNA” in Spain’s style of play.
With 21 goals and 16 assists in her first season in North London, Caldentey’s impact was undeniable. Her contribution played a vital role in Arsenal’s European triumph over her former Barcelona teammates and cemented her place as one of the best-attacking players in the world today.
Whether it’s silverware with Spain or individual glory in Paris this September, Caldentey’s 2025 journey is far from over.
Last Updated on April 7, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
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