Arsenal star Mariona Caldentey knows what she 'has to do' to challenge Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas for Ballon d'Or
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Published 06/07/2025 at 18:24 GMT+1
The race for the 2025 Ballon d'Or is on and Arsenal star Mariona Caldentey has shot into contention after a spectacular debut season in London. The attacking midfielder helped the club end a long wait to win the UEFA Champions League and her sights are now set on inspiring Spain to Euro 2025 glory - which could help her challenge some illustrious team-mates for the biggest individual award.
England train in Switzerland ahead of Euro 2025 opener against France at the weekend
Video credit: SNTV
Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey believes a strong Euro 2025 with Spain could be key to propelling her into contention for the Ballon d’Or after a sensational season at club level.
Caldentey and her club-mates stunned many of her fellow Spaniards with their UEFA Women’s Champions League final victory over Barcelona in May.
Stina Blackstenius’ goal sealed an extraordinary victory for the Women’s Super League underdogs, who claimed the European trophy for the first time in 18 years.
It was the cherry on top of a dazzling debut season in London for Caldentey, who was crowned WSL Player of the Year after scoring nine league goals.
That form has put her into the conversation for the Ballon d’Or, which has been shared by her Spain team-mates Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas over the last four years.
But Caldentey is now setting her sights on adding a European Championship title to the trophy cabinet of world champions Spain in her bid to claim the individual prize.
"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.
The versatile midfielder, 29, left Barcelona after a decade in Catalonia to join Arsenal last summer.
She has won three Champions League titles in a row and her CV boasts an impressive total of four to go with six Spanish league titles, the Women’s World Cup and UEFA Nations League.
Arsenal finished second to Chelsea in the WSL last season and Caldentey has been delighted with how the move has gone.
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"I see it as an Erasmus [exchange] because I will go back to Spain. It's a bit of an adventure," says Caldentey.
"I wanted to learn to adapt to a different game. The first year has gone by very quickly. I've really enjoyed it, but I still have a lot to do.
"Getting out of your comfort zone is always a challenge and helps you develop. The English league is a different kind of football, more physical, with lots of turnovers of possession, and open."
She added: "The Barca 'DNA' is obviously a style of football I love and is more or less similar to what we want to play here [with Spain].
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England train in Switzerland ahead of Euro 2025 opener against France at the weekend
Video credit: SNTV
"But I knew that leaving would also provide me with a change in style, and that was what I was looking for."
Spain began their bid for Euro 2025 glory with a crushing 5-0 win over Portugal and face Belgium next in Group B on Monday before taking on Italy.
The star-studded Spaniards are widely considered among the favourites for the trophy.
"We see it [the pressure] more as a privilege," Caldentey said.
"I think in recent years we've become more accustomed to it. You have to live with it. We have a lot of weapons. We are a super-complete team."
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