Spain's New Star, Vicky López, Pronounces Her Presence at Euro 2025

From the nation that claimed the final 4 Ballon d’Or awards, Spain has a brand new star.

The 18-year-old Vicky López introduced her arrival on the massive stage Thursday by serving to Spain to a gap 5-0 rout of Portugal on the Ladies’s European Championship.

It was Spain’s greatest win on the match, eclipsing the 4-1 win over Finland at Euro 2022.

López added the second purpose simply minutes after Esther González scored the primary, and she or he proved a relentless menace for the beleaguered Portuguese protection, organising probabilities for Alexia Putellas and taking part in a decisive position earlier than González’ second purpose.

Her efficiency earned reward from Spain coach Montse Tomé, even when she understandably tried to reign within the burgeoning expectations.

“She’s a younger participant with whom we’ve to be affected person,” Tomé stated. “We’ve been working together with her for a yr, nearly two years now. We have now lots of religion in her expertise, and she or he’s at a degree the place we’ve been in a position to give her minutes (of taking part in time) now. She responded effectively. She did the job she needed to do very effectively.”

Tomé stated López nonetheless had loads of time to develop. “We have now to maintain serving to her enhance. She’s very younger, and we’re right here to assist her proceed having fun with what she does,” the Spain coach stated.

It’s clear that Tomé’s religion is paying off for the participant.

“After I play with confidence, I play higher,” López advised media within the blended zone after Thursday’s match. “While you play with out confidence, it’s unhealthy. In the end I’m grateful for the belief that I’m proven as a result of I attempt to be myself on the sphere.”

López performed until the 81st minute when she made method for Aitana Bonmatí, who began on the bench after being hospitalized for viral meningitis final week. Bonmatí received the final two Ballon d’Or awards. Putellas received the earlier two. All three gamers are teammates at Barcelona.

Spain vs. Portugal UEFA Ladies’s Euro 2025 Highlights | FOX Soccer

At 18 days and 342 days outdated, López grew to become Spain’s youngest participant to look on the European Championship. She’d already set the document because the nation’s youngest participant when she made her debut final yr.

López grew to become the youngest participant to play in Spain’s high ladies’s league when she performed for Madrid CFF aged 15. She joined Barcelona in 2022 and went on to interrupt extra data there due to her age, together with changing into the membership’s youngest participant, male or feminine, to look within the Champions League.

“My household is the muse of my total life, and, after all, my father,” stated López, whose mom died when she was 11 years outdated, and who nonetheless seems to be to the sky after she scores.

Although Bonmatí is more likely to play a higher position within the subsequent video games, López will get extra alternatives to shine. She’s already considering of the workforce’s objectives.

“We’re hungry for extra,” López stated. “I believe if we preserve going like this, taking part in as a workforce and having that luck in entrance of purpose, we’ll be capable to play an excellent European Championship.”

Up subsequent, Spain performs Belgium on Monday (midday ET on FS1).

Reporting by The Related Press.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication every day!

FOLLOW Observe your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports activities expertise