Jenni Hermoso gets a call up for Spain after a year

Spain’s all-time top scorer Jenni Hermoso returns to the national team after being included in the first squad named by the new coach.

Hermoso made global headlines when she exposed being kissed against her will by the former president of the Spanish Football Federation during the 2023 Women’s World Cup final awards ceremony in Sydney, Australia.

The Mexican club Tigres striker has not played for Spain for a year and was dropped from the team ahead of the 2024 European Championship, when the world champions finished runners-up.

The new Spanish coach Sonia Bermudez recalled the 35-year-old Hermoso to her selection on Friday. Bermudez replaced former coach Montse Tome, whose contract was not extended by the federation after the European Championships in August.

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Former boss Luis Rubiales’ kiss led to calls for a national reckoning over sexism in sport and his conviction for sexual assault in February.

Bermudez also remembered Barcelona centre-back Mapi Leon, who has not played for Spain since being part of a players’ rebellion against then-former coach Jorge Vilda in September 2022.

Vilda kept his job through the 2023 Women’s World Cup but was fired shortly afterwards when he supported Rubiales. Tome, his assistant, took his place.

Bermudez will make his debut as Spain coach in the Women’s Nations League semi-finals against Sweden on October 24. The second leg is four days later in Sweden. Germany and France meet in the other semi-final.

Published on October 17, 2025