Salma Paralluelo, among the top three in the world for the second consecutive year

The Zaragozan-born FC Barcelona forward, Salma Paralluelo, is once again among the best players in the world 
at the age of 20. After winning bronze at the last Ballon d’Or – at just 19 years old – this season she has repeated the third position after being a key piece in the Barça Women’s team that won the league, the Queen’s Cup and the Champions League, scoring 30 goals and providing 5 assists.

Despite her youth, Salma Paralluelo already has a long list of achievements behind her. In just three seasons as a professional and with a cruciate ligament injury in between, she has won two leagues, two Spanish Super Cups, two Champions Leagues and a World Cup with the Spanish National Team, which was the first in the country’s history. Trophies that have already led her to finish third in the 2023 Ballon d’Or.

This time he has repeated the bronze medal, for the second year in a row. Thanks to his determination in the attack of the Blaugrana team, in which he achieved 35 goal participations and the treble of the Cup, League and Champions League. In addition, he reached the semi-finals in the Olympic Games with Spain, coming close to a medal.

In addition, both in the previous campaign and in this last one, the Aragonese has again finished behind her teammates and national team, Aitana Bonmati (winner) and Caroline Graham Hansen. However, the Aragonese’s feat is unique: At 20 years old, she has already managed to be nominated twice for the trophy, being among the three best in the world. 

In addition to Bonmati, it was also a historic night for Spanish football. After 64 years, a Spanish footballer won the Ballon d’Or, Rodri Hernández, who in turn becomes the second representative of the country to win the award. The first and only one so far was Luis Suárez Miramontes in 1960.

Whether Salma Paralluelo will ever win the top individual honour remains to be seen, but in a career that has only just begun, she is certainly destined to stamp her name on the women’s game.