Claudia Pina's patience award

In a world where immediacy has become a commandment and people want everything now, right away, without delay, almost without wanting to give anything in return, just because I'm worth it, Claudia Pina made a somewhat anachronistic gamble. She decided to give herself a vote of confidence, to wait a while. She was patient. They say her generation is reluctant to say no and doesn't handle frustration well. She's here to refute that. Instead of rushing, she maintained her composure. And instead of running away, she kept pushing. Pina didn't have it easy at Barcelona , but she didn't give up. She was convinced of where she wanted to be, which isn't the same as settling for where she was. She fought for her dream, and there's her reward: a starter in the European Championship with Spain after having established herself at Barça under Pere Romeu.

" I decided to be patient and stay at the club of my life . Luckily, this year I've started playing more," reveals the 23-year-old forward from Montcada i Reixac.

Owner of the left wing of Johan Salma and Rolfö were ahead of her and Kika was arriving, but she didn't give up and took the gap left by Mariona's departure.

He had Salma Paralluelo and Rolfö ahead of him, and Kika arrived, but he didn't give up and took over the gap in attack left by Mariona Caldentey's departure to Arsenal last summer. "I worked hard in the summer. I worked with a nutritionist, a fitness trainer, and a psychologist outside the club; all of that has helped me get where I am," he adds.

It would have been a different matter if he had detected a new stagnation in his career. "If I hadn't had more minutes, maybe it would have been time to reflect." A negative approach that no longer warrants existence, as he has gotten his way. He has scored 24 goals for Barça, some key ones like the doubles against Atlético in the Copa de la Reina final and against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final .

My dad always tells me: 'When you were little, you never stopped kicking, kicking, and kicking.' It's one of my traits, and it's been going well lately." Claudia Pina, Spanish Forward

That performance has opened the doors wide open for her to be selected for the national team once again, and Montse Tomé has discovered a footballer in tremendous form.

Just like at Barça, everything has fallen into place with the red jersey . Curiously, Pina, who was the top scorer at the 2018 U-17 World Cup and who a year earlier had scored seven goals against Montenegro in a single match, had run out of steam upon reaching the senior team.

Until November 29th, when the final whistle was opened when he opened the scoring in a friendly against South Korea in Cartagena. Since then, he has scored eight goals in 12 matches, two of them in Cornellà against England to secure a spot in the Nations League Final Four .

8 goals this season with the national team Since she arrived at the absolute she had been silent but in November she opened the tap against South Korea and she has not stopped

He's reaping the rewards once again. In the Euros, the post prevented him from making his debut against Portugal, but against Belgium, we did see that curling effort from outside the box that he excels at. A stunning goal into the top corner.

A shot that's always been there. "Ever since I was little, they'd put a bib on my terrace in the corner, and I'd try to get the ball in there. My dad always tells me: 'You just kept shooting, shooting, shooting.' It's one of my traits, and it's been going well lately. I'll keep trying," she confesses her little secret.

Things of destiny A decade ago he took a photo with Alexia and now they get along wonderfully and celebrate goals together.

For that fifth goal against Belgium, Alexia provided the assist. What's not new is her connection with the two-time Ballon d'Or winner. A decade ago, she and Jana Fernández took photos with Alexia, already a role model. "Alexia always tells me I have the same face. From day one, she's welcomed me and advised me, both on and off the field. Many years have passed, and now we have photos of us celebrating goals together. I hope there are more," she hopes.

But this Spain team has plenty of goals (they've scored 14, more than any other team at the European Championship), and that takes some of the responsibility off Pina's shoulders, who doesn't feel pressure when he plays despite his starting status. "Yes, I've been scoring more goals lately, but that doesn't mean it's all down to me. We've scored so many goals, and I don't even need to score them," jokes Pina, who's already practicing penalties in case they're needed in the quarterfinals against Switzerland, but doesn't want to see them happen. "I hope I don't make it because our hearts might stop."