Jenni Hermoso Leads Spain’s Storybook Triumph in Nations League Final as Alexia Putellas Hails a ‘Magical Night’

Jenni Hermoso and Spain Celebrate Another Nations League Final Victory on a Night Alexia Putellas Will Never Forget

For a player whose career has already spanned eras, defined generations, and outlasted countless storms, Jenni Hermoso’s latest chapter feels almost too perfect to script. The 35-year-old, Spain’s all-time leading scorer and one of the most influential figures in modern women’s football, completed the kind of comeback on Tuesday night that resonated far beyond the touchline. After a year away from international duty and a return clouded by controversy, Hermoso stood once again at the centre of Spanish celebration as Spain defeated Germany 3-0 to win the Nations League final.

It was not just a victory. It was a moment full of emotion, catharsis, and joy—the kind that only sport at its best can deliver.

Spain, playing in front of a record-breaking home crowd at Madrid’s Estadi Metropolitano, lifted the Nations League trophy for the second consecutive year, adding yet another piece of silverware to the dynasty they have built. Claudia Pina’s brace and a sharp finish from Vicky López sealed a comfortable win that underlined La Roja’s dominance even in the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, sidelined with a broken leg.

And when the final whistle blew, all eyes drifted inevitably toward Hermoso—back in her national colours, back where she belongs, and once again lifting a trophy with the country she helped elevate to the top of the world.

A Fairy-Tale Return for Jenni Hermoso

Alexia Putellas Jenni Hermoso

Hermoso didn’t start the match, but her entrance late in the second half was met with the kind of ovation that only a player of her stature commands. The roar from more than 55,000 fans was equal parts appreciation and relief—relief that she is still here, still shining, still part of the heart and soul of this Spanish side.

“It has been many months of work,” Hermoso admitted afterwards, and the emotion in her voice said more than any headline ever could. “Months of thinking about putting the shirt on again. In the end, everything has its reward. We continue to show we are the best team in the world.”

For those who watched her beginning: the talent. For those who watched her rise: the elegance. For those who watched her suffer: the resilience. And for those who watched her return: the joy.

Hermoso was there in the 2023 World Cup final, playing her part in the greatest night in Spain’s footballing history, yet that triumph was overshadowed by the now infamous unsolicited kiss from former RFEF president Luis Rubiales. What followed was a long, painful storm—legal battles, public outrage, collective protest, and Hermoso’s year-long absence from the national team.

But on Tuesday night, the noise was gone. This was her moment again.

A Magical Night for Spain—and for Alexia Putellas

Spain v Germany – UEFA Women’s Nations League 2025 Final Second Leg

If Hermoso supplied the emotion, her long-time teammate Alexia Putellas captured the atmosphere with precision. The Barcelona legend—twice a Ballon d’Or winner, beloved in Spain and respected everywhere—stood on the pitch with the kind of expression that hinted she never wanted the night to end.

“It’s one of the most magical nights we’ve lived,” Putellas said, her smile stretching as wide as the Metropolitano stands. “One of the best nights of my career. Thank you to all these people who came to support us.”

Putellas, now 13 years into her national team journey, spoke not just as a champion but as a visionary—one who has seen the rise of women’s football in Spain from grassroots fight to global heavyweight.

“We never imagined something like this,” she added. “It says a lot about what we’ve done for women’s football in Spain. We’ll continue inspiring girls and boys to chase their dreams, because sometimes they really do come true.”

Those dreams were visible throughout the stadium—on the pitch and in the stands. The attendance of 55,843 set a new record for a women’s international played in Spain. The noise was thunderous, the energy contagious, and the sense of unity unmistakable.

A First Trophy for Sonia Bermúdez—and a Statement for the Future

While the victory tasted familiar for the players, it was a brand-new sweetness for head coach Sonia Bermúdez, celebrating her first major trophy as Spain’s manager. She stepped into the role in August, replacing Montse Tomé, and has already earned the trust and admiration of a squad that knows a thing or two about high standards.

“I’m very happy,” she said with a mixture of relief and pride. “After the match in Germany, we knew we could improve. Today the team came out more focused, pressing higher—that was the idea.”

Bermúdez praised the team’s discipline, their defensive composure, and their ruthlessness in front of goal. It was everything she had worked for.

And she couldn’t hide how much it meant to lift a trophy on home soil.

“My whole family came,” she said. “People travelled from far away. We felt the fans so close. This stadium has something special. I played here—it means a lot.”

Spain have become accustomed to winning, but a coach’s first trophy is always memorable. For Bermúdez, it is both a milestone and a launchpad.

Spain Set Their Sights on World Cup 2027

With the Nations League crown secured and momentum rolling, Spain now head confidently into the next major goal: World Cup 2027 qualifying. They will open their campaign in March against Iceland and Ukraine, and they will do so as one of the favourites—not an underdog story anymore, but a legitimate powerhouse.

What Tuesday showed, perhaps more than anything, is the frightening depth of this Spanish side. Winning 3-0 against Germany without Bonmatí—and without particularly needing Hermoso or Putellas to score—sends a message to the rest of the world.

A message that Spain are not just enjoying a golden generation. They are building a golden era.

And if the night belonged to anyone, it belonged to Jenni Hermoso—living proof that even in football, fairy tales do sometimes come true.