Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati could be out for the season due to a severe fibula fracture.
The Barcelona and Spain star, who has won the Ballon d’Or in each of the last three years, broke her leg in national team training late last month.
On Tuesday, the 27-year-old underwent surgery on the fracture to her left fibula at the Hospital de Barcelona and it is anticipated she will be out for five months, casting doubt over her chances of playing again this season.
Initial assessments on her injury prior to surgery were undertaken on Monday.
It is a major blow to Barcelona Femeni, who were beaten in last season’s Champions League final by Arsenal but are considered favourites again this season and have a six-point cushion at the top of the Spanish top flight.
She 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 scores still level after a goalless first leg in Kaiserslautern on Friday.
Barcelona issued an update on Bonmati’s injury on Tuesday, which read: “First-team player Aitana Bonmatí has undergone successful surgery for the transdermal fracture of her left fibula.
“This surgery was performed by Dr. Antoni Dalmau at the Hospital de Barcelona, under the supervision of the Club's Medical Services. The expected recovery time will be around five months.”
That followed an initial club statement released on Monday, which read: “Tests carried out on Monday on the first team player Aitana Bonmatí reveal that she has a fracture of the fibula in the left ankle.
“Surgery will be carried out on Tuesday by Dr. Antoni Dalmau at Barcelona Hospital under the supervision of the Club's medical staff.”
