World Cup Hero Olga Carmona: Tears of Glory
After scoring a historic goal to help the Spanish women's team win the 2023 World Cup, Olga Carmona received the sad news that her father had passed away.
"Merchi". That was the black writing on Olga Carmona's inner shirt. She sent the message after scoring the historic goal forSpain women's teamin the 2023 World Cup final against England.
A message to the mother of a friend who had just passed away, in true Andres Iniesta style in 2010 (scored in the final in South Africa and dedicated to Daniel Jarque who had passed away a year earlier).
"This victory belongs to her", Olga said after the final whistle. At that time, she did not know anything about her father's death due to illness (the family hid it so she could focus on playing the final).
Spanish warrior
Olga Carmona has a powerful left-footed shot. An enthusiastic player, her spirit boosted the confidence of the team. Olga moved up and down the wing, attacking and defending throughout the final.
The pressure of a stadium with 75,000 spectators does not affect Olga. Carmona is used to the responsibility even though she is only 23 years old.
She demonstrated that when she took a penalty at Camp Nou, in front of 91,553 spectators - a record for women's football, in the Champions League quarter-final that Real Madrid lost to Barcelona.
In the finalWorld CupLast Sunday, she walked out of the tunnel with a solemn expression, looking neither at the trophy nor at her opponents but with fire in her eyes.
Olga wanted to play the final in the most relaxed way, enjoy football and the World Cup title never crossed her mind. Carmona also did not think she would be the one to score the winning goal, as she did in the semi-final against Sweden (deciding the score in the 89th minute).
"It was the most important goal of my life", Olga confided after the match with Sweden. She did not know that in the final, she would go from heroine to legend, the author of the only goal and the best player award of the match.
The sadness of glory days
Trained at the academyfootballSevilla as a winger, along with her brothers, Olga became a complete player on the left flank.
Olga's road to the World Cup was not easy. In the match against Japan, Spain's only defeat in Australia/New Zealand, she played only 45 minutes. In the round of 16, she was not allowed to play by coach Vilda.
In the quarter-finals, Olga left the field immediately after scoring the goal that made it 2-1 against the Netherlands.
Determined and seizing every opportunity, Olga became the protagonist in the semi-finals and quarter-finals. Starting from humble beginnings but then becoming a key player, and writing a new page in the history of Spanish women's football.
Olga's mother, one of her biggest supporters, flew to Australia on Friday. One of her brothers also joined her. On this final leg, it was her family who kept her feet on the ground.
As a child, Olga Carmona loved tennis, swimming and playing flamenco. However, she no longer paid attention to the guitar, forgot the blue water and put her racket aside to run around on the left wing.
Olga scored the most important goal in the history of Spanish women's football, then bad news came from home.
Returning to the capital Madrid, Olga held back her tears to join the parade with the team."This is a very special moment for all of Spain, but also a difficult one for me. A day with many emotions", she choked.
"There's a moment when it's the best day of your life, and then it becomes the worst day of your life", Olga shared. Spain's jersey will have the star symbolizing the World Cup championship and she wants to give it to her father.
"I am truly happy to be able to bring this joy to the whole country, to you, the star that everyone so desires. It is not only the star we wear on our chests, but that of all those who are in heaven and walking with the team".
