Athenea del Castillo: From Bit-Part Player to Key Player in Spain’s Euro 2025 Journey

From being a fringe player in Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup-winning squad to playing a pivotal role in their Euro 2025 semi-final campaign, Athenea del Castillo has firmly established herself as one of Spain’s key players. In what has been a remarkable transformation, the Real Madrid attacker, at 24, continues to make significant contributions to her team’s progress, including their semi-final clash against Germany on Wednesday.

Equaliser Against Italy

Del Castillo’s journey in Euro 2025 took a major turn when she was brought into the starting line-up for Spain’s final group-stage match against Italy. With Spain trailing early, it was Del Castillo who struck an equaliser, helping the team recover and ultimately win 3-1. Her performance in that match showed just how much she could influence the game, regardless of her role.

However, her involvement didn’t end there. Despite starting that match, Del Castillo was placed back on the bench for the quarter-final tie against Switzerland in Bern. When called upon as a substitute just past the hour mark, Del Castillo wasted no time in making an impact. She broke the deadlock four minutes after her introduction, helping Spain seal a 2-0 win and securing a place in the semi-finals.

Her performance has left coach Montse Tomé with a selection dilemma ahead of the semi-final against Germany in Zurich.

“I have to just focus on the things that I can influence,” Del Castillo said in an interview with AFP. “Luckily, I am managing to help the team, whether I’m starting or not.”

The Dream of European Glory

With Spain still riding high from their 2023 World Cup victory, a win over Germany will bring them closer to adding their first-ever European crown to the trophy cabinet. Spain’s 2023 World Cup triumph, where they defeated England in the final, has sparked immense hope within the squad, and the team is now focused on continuing their strong run in Euro 2025.

“We are full of hope, we are so excited,” Del Castillo remarked. “We dream of being European champions, but to do that, we need to win on Wednesday, so all our energy is going into that game.”

As for their opponents, Del Castillo remains well aware of the challenge Germany presents:

“We know all about the potential in the Germany team. They are a great side who have been European champions eight times after all.”

Spain’s Core: Experienced and Emerging Stars

While the backbone of Spain’s team still includes the players who led them to World Cup glory, such as Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, and Irene Paredes, Del Castillo has become an increasingly significant figure for her country.

In the 2023 World Cup, under coach Jorge Vilda, Del Castillo started the tournament as a regular but gradually saw less playing time. Her fortunes have shifted in Euro 2025, and despite not being a guaranteed starter, she has become a more influential player than during the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Del Castillo was also part of Spain’s squad in the 2024 Olympics, where they suffered a disappointing defeat to Germany in the bronze medal match—a result they will be eager to avenge in their upcoming encounter.

Maturing as a Leader

Despite still being relatively young, Del Castillo has over 60 international caps to her name and understands her growing leadership role within the squad. Her personality and experience make her one of the key players, especially in difficult moments during games.

“I know how to differentiate between moments when you have to work and times when you can give a little bit of joy,” Del Castillo explained, recognising how the team has developed since their loss to Germany in the Olympic bronze medal match. “I think we have matured a lot since then. We are better at controlling games in different moments now.”

Del Castillo also highlighted the balance between youth and experience in the squad. She views herself as a part of the younger generation, even though there are players like Vicky Lopez and Maite Zubieta who are even younger.

“We have that mix of youth and experience, of joy but also maturity,” Del Castillo said.

The Infectious Personality Behind the Player

Known for her glowing smile and infectious personality, Del Castillo has never allowed her increasing recognition to change her approach to life. Whether in Spain or in Madrid, where she now plays for Real Madrid, she remains grounded.

“I have not changed much. I still do the same things, I still try to enjoy life, and luckily everything is going well at home, with my family and friends,” she said.

“I am very happy in Madrid—I prefer the north, but I like Madrid as a city. I love to go out for a wander, listen to music, and be with my family. If I changed what I did off the pitch, that would also change me on it, and I don’t like that because then I would lose my essence.”

For Del Castillo, it’s all about finding the balance between enjoying life off the pitch and being committed to her role on it. With the Euro 2025 semi-finals around the corner, she is focused on helping Spain achieve their dreams of European glory.