Spain's pursuit of their first women's European crown has begun perfectly in Switzerland.
With three wins, nine points, and 14 goals scored, Spain has effortlessly surpassed Portugal, Belgium, and Italy to top Group B, securing a spot in the quarter-finals.
In a Spanish team brimming with talent, which players have distinguished themselves?
Alexia Putellas
After missing the 2022 Euros due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Alexia Putellas is making up for lost time on the European stage. The Barcelona midfielder earned consecutive player-of-the-match awards with outstanding performances in the 5-0 win over Portugal and the 6-2 victory against Belgium, scoring three goals and assisting three more in those games.
She added two more assists in the 3-1 win against Italy, equaling the record for group-stage goal involvements by a single player, previously set by England's Beth Mead three years ago. Not only does Putellas lead in direct goal involvements, but she also creates more chances per 90 minutes (five) than any other player at Euro 2025.
"She is just impossible to defend against," former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie told BBC Sport. "She is so good in possession, has so much awareness, and seems to play in slow motion, but she's actually just so in control. I think the only way to stop her is to limit the ball getting to her because once she has it, she's incredibly dangerous."
Patri Guijarro
Part of a trio with Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, both two-time Ballon d'Or winners, Patri's work at the base of Spain's and Barcelona's midfield often goes unnoticed. However, the 27-year-old "runs the show," according to Corsie, who added: "She's the one who starts everything, controls the tempo, and decides when to settle the game down."
Spain's coach Montse Tome considers Patri the "best player in her position." Tome remarked, "It's not an easy position because it's not well recognized from the outside. Her personality, humility, and hard work allow Aitana, Alexia, Vicky Lopez, Mariona Caldentey, and Claudia Pina to play more freely, and Patri is key to that."
Patri expressed her pride in Tome's comments, stating, "I feel super happy and super proud knowing the coach said that about me. For our game model, midfielders have to participate because then everything flows and the team feels confident." Besides setting the pace and creating space for her teammates, Patri showed her scoring ability with a decisive goal against Italy.
Vicky Lopez
At just 18, Vicky Lopez is already enjoying a remarkable club career with Barcelona and is now making her mark for Spain. With manager Tome opting not to start Bonmati in Spain's first two games after her bout of viral meningitis, Lopez was chosen as her replacement.
In La Roja's opener against Portugal, Lopez scored after eight minutes, had another effort saved, and linked up superbly with Putellas and Pina. Although she had less time against Belgium as Bonmati came on at half-time, Lopez still made an impact, setting up Putellas for their opener and forcing a goalline clearance.
"She plays as if she had 10 years of experience," Putellas said about the teenager after the Portugal game. Her flair and fearlessness with the ball have caught the attention of fans and pundits, completing 5.1 dribbles per 90 minutes, second only to Germany's Klara Buhl (6.2). Corsie praised her, saying, "Her ability one v one, she's great with either foot, really tricky, and has great awareness."
Esther Gonzalez
Esther Gonzalez may not be the most well-known name in a Spanish team full of stars, but with 36 goals in 53 games for her country, she is a prolific goalscorer. Leading the tournament's scoring charts with four goals, the 32-year-old opened her account at the Euros with a fantastic flicked volley against Portugal just 87 seconds into the match.
She added a second with a poacher's finish from close range, demonstrated ruthlessness with her clinical strike against Belgium, and was in the right place at the right time for a poked finish from close range against Italy. "One of the things she does most effectively is she's always on the back shoulder," Corsie said.
"She's so good at creating an extra yard for herself by always trying to play off the shoulder, knowing that if the ball goes wide and then gets delivered into the box, she'll always have an extra yard on you." Gonzalez is averaging 2.3 goals every 90 minutes, more than any other player who has played over 100 minutes at Euro 2025. "Esther is playing at an excellent level at all levels," Tome said of the Gotham FC striker, highlighting her tactical awareness and energy.
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