You can find everything about the World Cup in football: Competition news, topics, Futistietäjä, program, results and statistics on ‘s World Cup website.
At the FIFA World Cup, Spain made history by advancing to the medal games and the top four for the first time in its history on the women’s side. Even in the European Championships, Spanish women have been among the top four only once in 1997.
A 19-year-old became Spain’s hero against Holland Salma Parallel life. Paralluelo entered the field as a substitute in the 71st minute and decided 40 minutes later.
The backgrounds of parallel life are interesting. He competed for a long time in athletics and represented Spain at the top level.
The Spanish talent even competed at the adult level in the EC halls as the second youngest participant of all time at the age of 15. That happened at 400 meters in 2019. In the same year, he clocked the top result in the world for under-18s in the 400-meter hurdles.
– You must have heard From Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who broke the world record in the 400-meter hurdles. Or Allyson from Felix, who dominated in his time at 200 and 400 meters. Salma did harder times without training than either of them at the same age, Paralluelo coached Felix Laguna described to The Athletic.
Today, McLaughlin-Levrone is known as a world record-breaking track and field superstar. Allyson Felix, on the other hand, is a six-time Olympic champion and a 13-time world champion on outdoor tracks.
– If Salma had chosen athletics, and there had been no injuries, she would have ended up in the Olympic finals in athletics and won medals. I don’t know which medal position, but one of them.
Of course, Laguna’s comparisons are fierce in the sense that Paralluelo ran the 400-meter hurdles at the age of 16 in his best time of 57.43. McLaughlin-Levrone already ran 55.28 at the same age.
Paralluelo has been in the public eye since the age of 14. According to coach Laguna, the background troops had wanted to protect the two-sport expert, but the athlete himself did not want that.
– There are good athletes and then there are talents, Laguna describes.
– Salma is a talent, and even more so, the kind of talent that doesn’t normally exist. Salma was ahead of other girls in her age group and even her parents. Even without doing anything. Salma was a natural talent. We didn’t have to train him.
The coach beamed to The Athletic about Paralluelo from the ground to the heavens.
– Many people stopped to watch Salma’s training. Running was beautiful. He ran like a gazelle. Salma was a very talented runner.
Half of life in hotels
At the same time as athletics, Paralluelo also represented Spain in the football youth championships.
In 2018, Paralluelo played in the under-17 national team, which won the European and World Championships. A year later, Paralluelo had already made it to the under-20 national team. The super talent got to celebrate the world championship again in Spain’s shirt.
Paralluelo scored two goals in the final against Japan and was named the best player of the World Cup.
Paralluelo would have been invited to the European Championship at the adult level already last year, but a leg injury prevented him from playing.
Competing in two sports at the top level also started to take its toll. According to The Athletic, Paralluelo often woke up at five in the morning to get all of his duties and chores done during the day.
– Salma has spent half of her life in hotels. It was difficult for him to keep up with his studies. Salma never had a tutor. He should have had one, coach Laguna stressed.
After a knee injury to Barcelona
In the end, Paralluelo decided that he would choose a sport on his 18th birthday. However, the decision was delayed. Paralluelo didn’t want to make a decision about the sport yet, because he felt that neither had risen to the top yet. The fully-aged Spaniard returned to football fields in April 2021.
Estradi was still very possible, FC Barcelona’s home field. Paralluelo scored a wonderful goal for Villarreal, which he represented. FC Barcelona only conceded five goals at home in the Spanish premier league that season. According to reviews, Paralluelo’s hit was the most beautiful of them all.
It was also enough for FC Barcelona. The big club, which had been chasing super talent for a long time, and Paralluelo came to an agreement. More than a year ago, it was announced that Paralluelo would be moving to Barcelona. At the same time, it meant that track and field sports would remain. Although Barcelona has its own athletics department, Paralluelo wanted to focus only on football in the future.
At least now it seems that the first year as a pure footballer has paid off.
Paralluelo commented emotionally after the match about his goal and Spain’s entry into the medal games.
– I have celebrated the victory by shouting a lot purely out of passion. In this moment, joy is at its highest. I was in shock after scoring the goal. I’m really grateful that it was my turn to score, Paralluelo said Marcan by.
On Tuesday, Spain will face either Japan or Sweden in the World Cup semi-final at 11:00 a.m. The other quarterfinals of the World Cup are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. You can find everything about the World Cup in football: Competition news, topics, Futistietäjä, program, results and statistics on ‘s World Cup website.