Three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí is set for a recovery time of around five months after undergoing successful surgery on Tuesday for a fracture to her left fibula, sustained during national team training.
According to a report from The Standard, Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmatí, who has won the Ballon d’Or in each of the last three years, faces a potential season-ending layoff after suffering a “severe fibula fracture” during national team training late last month.
The 27-year-old underwent surgery on the fracture to her left fibula on Tuesday at the Hospital de Barcelona. Her club, Barcelona Femeni, issued an update on the procedure, confirming the extent of her expected absence.
The statement from Barcelona read: “First-team player Aitana Bonmatí has undergone successful surgery for the transdermal fracture of her left fibula.”
The club added that the surgery was performed by Dr. Antoni Dalmau at the Hospital de Barcelona, under the supervision of the Club’s Medical Services.
The official recovery timeframe is anticipated to be lengthy: “The expected recovery time will be around five months.”
This news is a major blow to Barcelona Femeni, who have a six-point cushion at the top of the Spanish top flight and are considered favorites for the Champions League despite losing last season’s final to Arsenal.
Bonmatí will also be a huge loss for Spain, who face Germany in Madrid on Tuesday night in the second leg of the UEFA Nations League final, with the tie currently level after a goalless first leg on Friday.