Olga Carmona, who plays her club football for Real Madrid, played a starring role in Spain’s World Cup campaign by scoring the winning goals in the semi-final and final.
The Spanish star who scored the match-winning goal against England in Sunday’s World Cup final found out her father had died after the game.
Olga Carmona’s 29th minute strike was all that separated the sides in Sydney, securing a 1-0 win.
The Spanish FA has announced she found out about the death of her father following the full-time whistle.
“We send out most sincere hugs to Olga and her family in a moment of deep pain,” it said on X, formerly Twitter.
“We love you, Olga, you are the history of Spanish football.”
⚫️ PÉSAME | La @RFEF lamenta profundamente comunicar el fallecimiento del padre de Olga Carmona. La futbolista ha conocido la triste noticia una vez concluida la final de la Copa del Mundo.
Mandamos nuestro abrazo más sincero a Olga y a su familia en un momento de profundo… pic.twitter.com/BSe2XmUrVF
— RFEF (@rfef) August 20, 2023
The 23-year-old Real Madrid star wheeled away in delight when her precise left-footed shot found the corner of Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps’s net.
She lifted her shirt to reveal the message “Merchi” on her compression top, which was reportedly a tribute to a friend whose mother recently passed away.
The defender, who scored a late winner in the semi-finals against Sweden, was named player of the match.
Real Madrid said the club’s “condolences and love” were with Carmona, her family and friends.
Spanish team ‘had something special’
Carmona took part normally in the post-match celebrations with her teammates on the Stadium Australia pitch; dancing, getting her medal and kissing the trophy.
According to the Spanish FA, Carmona’s father, who had been fighting a long illness, died on Friday – before the final got under way.
However, Spanish media outlet Relevo reported that family and friends decided not to tell her the news, so that she could focus on the match.
Carmona’s mother and brothers had rushed back to Spain – having originally been in New Zealand for the group stages – but arrived in Australia on Saturday to support her in the final.
It’s the first time Spain have won the competition.
“We felt this team had something special,” she said after the game.
Before news of her father’s death, the Spanish FA had said title celebrations would take place in Madrid when the squad return home on Monday.