Zaragoza, Spain – The story of Salma Paralluelo, na one wey fit make person laugh and cry at the same time. This young star don make waves for both athletics and football, but na when FC Barcelona come calling, she know say na time to choose. And she choose football, small girl wey dey redefine how we see women for sports.
At 18, Salma face heavy decision: continue as potential Olympic champion for athletics or dive headlong into football. Wetin make am swap her spikes for football boots? Well, she vex for the thought wey dey echo for her mind, “Ah, wetin if football forget me?” But as dem say, fortune dey favor the bold na im she jump enter.
Born on November 13, 2003, to an Equatorial Guinean mama and Spanish papa for Zaragoza, Salma start to run at 7 years. She don dey shine for track since then, stacking domestic records like say na snacks. She collect bronze for 400 meters with record-breaking time of 53.83 seconds, dem fit hire am for Team Spain fast fast, dey tun am into star for athletics.
But as she dey hustle for track, the fun she dey see as boys dey play football begin catch her eye. “Why dem no go allow me play?” She reason am, but gender no fit stop her hustle as she join her male counterparts. Na so Salma dey swing between two worlds up until as she go like early training for athletics and late night football matches. Talk about balancing act!
Fast forward, she don already play for Zaragoza girls before she dabble into Villarreal in 2019. But na after injury and COVID delay matter, Barcelona come show interest. Salma sabi say to fess dem, she go need to focus solely on football. Na wetin she finally wrap her head around, “Hey, football na my real life now!”
Since she don join Barcelona, she don carry trophies like say na nothing. One UEFA Champions League and several La Liga titles don dey sit pretty for her shelf. In 2023, she even collect World Cup medal as Spain smash dem All Blacks, lifting the trophy like queen with her stylish football flair. Boys no fit shout!
Now, as she prepare for Euro 2025 final against England, Salma dey show say she no just be athlete, she dey channel her double talent into football success. Last last, we dey see say her past for track no go just be footnote, but a stepping stone to greatness wey dem fit celebrate worldwide.
“Look, football dey my heart. Na where I dey find happiness, na im I go carry am go the higher ground.” Na so Salma dey talk about her new journey, she dey shine and plenty people don dey look up to her. With just 21 years, she fit still achieve plenty more before dem go retire am.
For this Euro, as she look to get the first-ever Eurocup for La Roja, we dey keep our fingers crossed for her. After all, wetin no kill you go make you stronger! And this girl don show say she dey ready to brinbg home the cup. Salma, you too much!
