Salma Paralluelo is shining for both Barcelona and Spain

Salma Paralluelo may just be 19-years-old, but she shone even on the red carpet at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris. The Spanish forward ended up third in the Ballon d’Or rankings, with just Sam Kerr separating her from her compatriot - and eventual winner - Aitana Bonmatí. Her name is now locked firmly around the greats of women’s sport... and the eruption of the winger has truly been a historic event in football.

Everything has come like a tsunami for the player. From simultaneously competing in two sports (athletics and football), Salma has gone on to become a world star in her chosen department. And it was only on 11 July 2022 when she took the decision that would change her life and dedicated herself fully to football, leaving the running track behind.

Athletics or football: Salma’s life-changing choice

Despite it being tough, with a lot of small steps and plenty of tears, time made sure that she would be paid back in kind. In just over a year Salma has reached the heights of winning the Spanish women’s domestic league, the Champions League, the Super Cup and the World Cup with Spain, where she was one of the difference-makers in the side. Her goal against Sweden in the semi-finals set Spain up to go on and win, making it to the final after never having been past the quarters, and all with the former Villarreal player being the youngest in the squad.

Salma’s life has always had an element of fighting somewhere inside, ever since she was small. The last hurdle she had to jump was a ligament tear that she suffered in April 2021, still a Villarreal player (as well as a Playas de Castellón atheltics club member). She spent months in the shadows which helped her to come back stronger - nobody beats her when it comes to bravery.

Salma the youngest player ever to be top-3 in the world

Salma is one of those special players who leaves a mark wherever she goes, just like in Spain’s recent thrashing of Switzerland. Always quiet off it, Salma prefers to leave her football boots to do the talking, and on the pitch is also where she breaks the rules: never before had a player so young been on the Ballon d’Or podium. In 2018 it was Ada Hegerberg, Pernille Harder and Dzsenifer Marozsan; in 2019 Megan Rapinoe won with Lucy Bronze and Pernille Harder behind.

In 2020 there was no trophy awarded and a year later Alexia Putellas led the line with Jenni Hermoso and Sam Kerr completing the podium. Finally, in 2022, Alexia won with Beth Mead and Sam Kerr again in the top three. Many of the names, you will notice, have been repeated: all of the players mentioned are veterans of the game meaning that Salma, at just 19, has broken the mould.