'The World Cup was for nothing' - Aitana Bonmati claims 2023 triumph hasn't improved state of women's football in Spain as she makes comparison with 'big change' in England

Bonmati won it all in 2023 as she secured a treble with Barcelona before winning the Women's World Cup with the Spanish national team. She also won the Ballon d'Or and The Best FIFA Women's Player award for 2023.

Despite being a world champion, the Barcelona star felt that the World Cup triumph did not improve the condition of women's football in Spain as she drew comparisons with England's Euro 2022 win, which had a massive impact on the country's domestic football.

In an interview with L'Equipe, Bonmati was asked about the impact of the 2023 World Cup, to which she said: "Unfortunately, I can't say that much has changed. We have the example of the English - when they won the Euros, we saw a big change after the success at the national level. There were knock-on effects. Investment in the domestic league, full stadiums when England plays. It makes me want it because I can't say that it is the same here [in Spain]. There is still so much left to do here and I feel like the World Cup was for nothing."

She added: "It all starts with doing things well, promoting the matches properly, wanting to organise them in adequate stadiums, not changing the ground one week before the game - because that makes everything more complicated for the fans. Promoting the league as well - in the country in general, it is not at the level that we deserve."

To further prove her point, the midfielder cited the example of the last-minute change of venue of the upcoming Women's Nations League final between Spain and France from Cadiz to Cartuja.

Bonmati said: "We were supposed to play in Cádiz and in the end, we changed location to play at the Cartuja [in Seville]. That wouldn't happen to the men's team for a Nations League final."

After facing France on Wednesday with the national side, the 26-year-old will be back in club colours for Barcelona's clash with Athletic Club in the first leg of their Copa de la Reina semi-final tie on March 7.