2024 Review: Spain Reclaims its Place Among the Elite

Spain has reclaimed its place among the top footballing nations after more than a decade since the end of its golden era, which saw three consecutive major titles. This was marked by their victory in the European Championship last summer.

Under the leadership of the effective but largely unknown coach Luis de la Fuente, and with Álvaro Morata as the team captain, “La Roja” has ushered in a new generation that has shown signs of brilliance in recent years.

The Spaniards won their fourth European title, their first since 2012, when they completed a remarkable trio of European Championship-World Cup-European Championship titles in succession. They did so without losing a single match in the finals hosted in Germany.

Without the usual star power, Manchester City midfielder Rodri stood out with his technical and tactical precision and was rewarded in October with the Ballon d’Or awarded to a midfielder – only the second time in history, following the dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 17-year-old wing wonder Lamine Yamal, who turned 17 the day before the final, amazed observers with his skill and maturity beyond his years. Another rising star, Nico Williams, impressed on the left wing, while talented Dani Olmo, previously playing in Leipzig before moving to Barcelona, was crucial in compensating for the injury to Pedri.