Mapi León Returns To Play For Spanish National Team After Three Years

Mapi León, the last of ‘Las 15’ players who refused to play for the Spanish women’s national team in 2022 has returned to the fold this week after a three year absence.

Mapi León last represented her country at UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 in the quarter-final defeat to host England on July 20. Two months later, she joined fourteen of her team-mates in writing an open letter to the Spanish federation for their failure to address their grievances with national team coach Jorge Vilda which they claimed was affecting their physical and mental well being.

Ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, some of ‘Las 15’, including Aitana Bonmatí, made the decision to return to the national team and work upon changing the situation from within the federation. The defender was not one of them. Speaking in an interview she said, “Mapi León has a way of life and values. I can’t go back if the situation hasn’t changed. There have to be changes. I’m not saying that no changes have happened, but I don’t see them.”

Following the World Cup, which Spain won, Jorge Vilda was dismissed and the remaining members of the 15 were called up by new head coach Montse Tomé for a Nations League match away to Sweden. Mapi León reported to tbe camp in Oliva but after discussions with the federation, left together with FC Barcelona team-mate Patri Guijarro.

While accepting changes had been made within the federation, she said “the situation for Patri and me is different from the rest of my colleagues. There have been no path or ways to return. It’s a process, but we’re happy because changes are happening.”

Nine months later, Patri returned to the national team in time for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Shortly after, another of the remaining 15, forward Clàudia Pina, was also welcomed back to the fold. At the time, Tomé admitted that León was still not ready to come back, “regarding Mapi León, I have the same information as before.”

Despite leading Spain back to the top of the FIFA World Rankings and the final of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, where they were unlucky to lose to defending champions England in a penalty shoot-shoot-out, Tomé was dismissed by the Spanish federation with Sonia Bermúdez appointed as her replacement.

The beginning of León’s international career overlapped with the end of that of Bermúdez, a former national team striker. León admitted that relationship may have been a factor in her return now. Speaking to Sport, she revealed “when I talked to Sonia, I liked everything I heard. I came with an open mind, with desire. And it is true that I had played with Sonia, we got along very well, and sometimes there are little things like that that add up.”

León admitted that she has also been in contact with the new Director of Women’s Football at the Spanish Federation, Reyes Beliver. “Everything is a process, and changes also take time. It’s true that during this time I’ve been in contact with the Federation, there have been conversations with Reyes, and in the end, it’s a question of feeling.”

Rejoining the national team camp at Las Rozas in Madrid, León said she has found it easy to reinterate herself. “I feel like the timings have been good for me because I just feel happy. I mean, I have no worries or bittersweet taste. I’m enjoying myself. I really wanted to contribute, to return, to contribute. And yes, it’s true that I feel at home.”

In her absence, Spain have won the FIFA Women’s World Cup and UEFA Women’s Nations League without her. It is something that León concedes was difficult to watch. “I’m not going to lie to you, I needed my time. Because at first it’s all like ‘ugh.’ In the first tournaments I was disconnected, on my vacation, focused on myself, on being well, on knowing what I needed to get the most out of myself.”

“Nobody is essential, but my teammates have done very well, they have had great tournaments, they have been world champions, they have won titles. . . I can’t do anything but admire them.”

Beginning tomorrow in Malaga, Spain will attempt to defend their Nations League title in a two-leg semi-final against Sweden. León acknowledges that she has no divine right to walk straight back into the team. “I’m here to contribute, with whatever role I get. If I play, great. If I don’t play? I’ll cheer on my teammates and be there for whatever they need.”