From European Athletics Championships to World Cup Football Finals: Salma Paralluelo Emerges as Spain’s Unexpected Asset
Having scored a crucial goal against Sweden in the semifinals on Tuesday, Salma Paralluelo from Barcelona has become one of the standout performers of the tournament, transitioning from a successful athletics career in her earlier years. Her rise in football has been as rapid as her sprints on the 400-meter track. At 19 years old, and just one year after definitively choosing the football pitch over athletics, Salma Paralluelo has transformed into a key goal-scorer for Team Spain. The FC Barcelona player netted the winning goal for Spain against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, and she continued her contributions, securing her team’s spot in the finals with another goal against Sweden on August 15.
Her substitution, replacing Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, completely altered the game for Spain. While the Swedes had the upper hand in the early stages of the second half, the momentum gradually shifted in favor of La Roja from around the 60th minute. This shift coincided with Salma Paralluelo’s entrance as a forward (57th minute), adding a stronger physical presence and eventually breaking the deadlock.
Participating in the European Athletics Championships at 15
The revelation of this World Cup, Salma Paralluelo, showcases her athletic prowess. Just a year ago, her weekends were divided between 400-meter runs on the athletics track on Saturdays and football matches on Sundays. During her time at Villarreal, she caught the attention of FC Barcelona in the summer of 2022, which prompted her to make a choice between her two passions. Football won out, yet her track and field medals remained, including a bronze medal at the 2019 Spanish Championships when she was just 15.
This achievement led her to the European Athletics Championships in the same year, while simultaneously playing second division football with Saragossa. “Athletics has imparted numerous values to me. It’s vastly different from football, demanding extensive training and sacrifices, and the outcomes rest solely on your efforts. Letting go of it was immensely challenging, and I endured some tough weeks. But life is about decisions, and I made mine,” she explained to Marca newspaper at the beginning of the World Cup.
She’s No Stranger to Winning a World Cup
In May 2022, the young footballer received her first call-up to join Team Spain, catching everyone by surprise. “She possesses not only swift movement but also the right kind of football pace, backed by her skill set. Being left-footed, she can excel on the left wing, advance upfront alongside another player, and this versatility is vital for us,” justified Jorge Vilda, the coach, in an interview with La Vanguardia. A year later, having added a Champions League title and a Spanish championship to her collection alongside her athletics medals, Salma Paralluelo enters the World Cup stage with effectiveness. After aiding Spain’s journey to the finals, she aspires to replicate her success from the U17 and U20 World Cups, which she triumphed in with the young Spanish squad.
