Salma Paralluelo had two passions growing up: football and athletics. And she excelled at both.

At 15, she made her debut in the Spanish second division for her hometown club, UD San Jose Zaragoza and was part of Spain's winning U-17 UEFA Women's Championship and World Cup teams in 2018.

She continued to pursue athletics and won gold in the 400m hurdles and medley relay at the Baku 2019 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival.

Despite thriving in both disciplines, balancing her commitments proved challenging. The rising star eventually chose football as her sole focus after a disruption in athletic competitions during the COVID-19 pandemic. She acknowledged the benefits of dual practice in her performances, citing how athletics helped her build endurance on the football pitch.

Salma Paraluello’s Trio of World Titles

A transfer to Villarreal saw the forward further establish her reputation as a promising star and validate her career choice.

A serious knee injury interrupted her 2022, but Paralluelo received her first senior call-up and was named in Spain's squad for the European Championship before being forced to pull out.