Jenni Hermoso returns to Spain squad following Luis Rubiales scandal & Euro 2025 snub as Barcelona's Mapi Leon ends three-year exile from national team

Hermoso, who has found the target on 57 occasions for Spain through 123 appearances, was surprisingly left out of a European Championship title bid in 2025 - despite featuring in all six qualifiers leading up to that tournament. The veteran forward had continued to figure in headlines around the world as a result of the Rubiales scandal.

The former head of Spain’s football federation kissed Hermoso on the lips when presenting her with a World Cup winners’ medal. He maintained that said clinch was consensual, but Hermoso always refuted that claim. Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault in February 2025 and, while being spared jail, was fined €10,800 (£8,942).

Hermoso said of being overlooked by Spain for Euro 2025: "I truly have a clear conscience, especially when I remove environments with such bad energy from my life." She went on to say: "Let them focus on making Spain European champions."

Montse Tome came agonisingly close to delivering on that remit, with a penalty shootout defeat being suffered to England in the European Championship final. She had said of leaving Hermoso out of her plans: "I understand Jenni is an important player. I spoke with her about her situation and we've done the same work with her as everyone else. We have assessed her performances for Tigres and spoken with her coach. In her position, we have Patri [Guijarro], Aitana [Bonmati], Alexia [Putellas], Maite [Zubieta], Vicky [Lopez] and even Mariona [Caldentey] or [Claudia] Pina can come in there. It's hard to pick 23 players, but we do the job professionally. At the end of the day that is what we have chosen."

Bermudez gave little away when being quizzed on Hermoso at her official presentation as successor to Tome. She said when asked about that big selection call: "I'm not going to reveal who Jennifer Hermoso is. She's a legend, the national team's top scorer, who's now in Mexico. But you'll have to wait for the list.

"We're starting from scratch. We want to focus on the project and we're going to try to bring in the best players. We're following all the players and monitoring them every week. I'm looking forward to getting started. When the list arrives, we'll talk about all the players."

That list has now dropped, and Hermoso’s name is on it. She is 35 years of age but boasts vast experience and goal-scoring instincts. Hermoso was awarded the Silver Ball for her exploits at the 2023 World Cup, having scored three goals and registered two assists, and claimed Golden Boot honours on five occasions during her time in Spanish domestic football with Barcelona (two spells) and Atletico Madrid.

Her former club colleague in Catalunya, Mapi Leon, has also been drafted back into the fold. She has not represented Spain since 2022 - having figured in the Euros that year. She was one of 15 players that abstained from national call-ups during a dispute with then-head coach Jorge Vilda. Leon ruled herself out of contention for the 2023 World Cup.

She has been caught up in a scandal of her own since then, with the 30-year-old defender being accused of touching a rival inappropriately during a Liga F clash between Barcelona and Espanyol in February 2025.

Leon was accused of "violating the privacy" of Colombia defender Daniela Caracas despite denying that she touched the groin area of a derby rival while defending a free-kick. Leon was subsequently stung with a two-match suspension. Any issues there have now been left in the past, with Spain preparing for a two-legged UEFA Nations League semi-final clash with Sweden.