“She is an inspiration to our daughters”

When Alexia and company were Julia’s age, women’s football did not exist in the media. Not only were matches not broadcast on TV, but it seemed sacrilege to suggest that 22 women could play an official match on the Camp Nou pitch. This Wednesday in the outskirts of the Barcelona temple not only were T-shirts with the name of Messi and Guardiola but also with those of Aitana and Jenni Hermoso. Aina was wearing two T-shirts Mapi Leon, a purple set and another azulgrana to wear it proudly in your hand. “They are my idols and I wanted to be part of this day. May it serve as an inspiration for girls and women’s sports,” she commented at 16 years old. “It is an inspiration for our daughters and for us too. That this movement can drag not only other sports, but in other areas,” said Sandra, her mother.

Anna, 40, played soccer until she was 13 years old. In her house they were very soccer fans. But while her brother continued to play into adulthood, she soon quit. Seven out of 10 girls leave the sport before turning 18, according to a study by Sant Joan de Déu. The dropout rate at 13 for girls doubles that of boys. While many children begin to see football as a job opportunity at that age, until recently it was unthinkable for them. “When I played there were always few girls and you didn’t see that it could be a way out. The girls now do, although there is still a lot left, at the salary level. I never imagined seeing something like this here”. Now many of the girls who were able to see this legendary day in the stadium or on TV will begin to dream of being soccer players like Graham Hansenwhich signed the little hand.

“That the girls can play in the stadium seems fabulous to me: they deserve this historic day and that there are many more days like this”, proclaimed Alfredo, who had come from Arenys with Mireia, Arlet and Beth. “That people don’t always miss half the show and that it doesn’t take place in a place where there aren’t so many people,” she highlighted the latter. Heura came from further afield, arriving from Benissanet de la Ribera d’Ebre. “We have traveled two hours by bus to come but as a mother I think it is worth it because it is a historic day that we will remember.” Giada and Berta, 12 and 13 years old, demanded that there be talk of Barça for men and Barça for women, and that it not be taken for granted that when they said “Barça” it was taken for granted that it was for boys.

“It is very important to normalize that both girls and boys can succeed in sport and make women more visible, who are not so much,” stressed Sònia, while her 4-year-old daughter Julia hugged her legs before entering the first time at the Camp Nou. “This day could be a relaunch for women’s football,” Jaume valued, smiling when he saw how his daughter taught the language dyed in azulgrana.

The tickets had already sold out at 5:30 p.m., when the stadium was already in full swing and where there was even resale, at 20 euros, another sample of normalization and interest that it generates. Just like the massive reception that the Barcelona team coach had when it arrived at the stadium.

The joy with which the European champions celebrated with the fans at the end of the match went far beyond qualifying for the Champions League semi-finals but for a victory that went much further. Maria Antonia Minguez and the rest of the pioneers, who had stayed to eat before watching the match, saw from the stands how the seed they had planted had blossomed in all its splendor.