Forward Jenni Hermoso says she has a “clear conscience” after being left out of Spain’s squad for the forthcoming European Championship in Switzerland.
Hermoso, 35, is Spain’s record goalscorer – with 57 goals in 123 appearances for her national side – and played a key role as Spain lifted the World Cup in Australia in 2023.
After receiving her World Cup winners medal, Hermoso was kissed by Spain’s former football federation boss Luis Rubiales without her consent.
Rubiales said the kiss was consensual, but in February was found guilty of sexual assault by Spain’s top criminal court. He was spared a jail sentence, but ordered to pay a fine of €10,800 (£8,942).
After Spain’s Euro 2025 squad announcement, Hermoso posted on X:, external “I truly have a clear conscience, especially when I remove environments with such bad energy from my life”, before going on to say “let them focus on making Spain European champions”.
The Tigres striker featured in all six qualifiers for Euro 2025, but her last international appearance was in October 2024 and she has not been called up to Spain’s past four squads.
Head coach Montse Tome gave a reason for her omission, saying: “I understand Jenni is an important player. I spoke with her about her situation and we’ve done the same work with her as everyone else.
“We have assessed her performances for Tigres and spoken with her coach. In her position, we have Patri [Guijarro], Aitana [Bonmati], Alexia [Putellas], Maite [Zubieta], Vicky [Lopez] and even Mariona [Caldentey] or [Claudia] Pina can come in there.
“It’s hard to pick 23 players, but we do the job professionally. At the end of the day that is what we have chosen.”
Tome has selected 11 members of Spain’s World Cup-winning side as part of her squad heading to Switzerland.
Mariona Caldentey, who started Arsenal’s Champions League final win over Barcelona, and Manchester City’s Leila Ouahabi have been included in the squad alongside two-time Ballon d’Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati.
The Euros gets under way on 2 July, with Spain taking on Portugal in Group B the following day.
