The Official State Gazette (BOE) corrected an error that led to an unexpected exclusion earlier this week. Ivana Andres Sanz is recognized as one of the leaders of the squad that clinched the Women’s World Cup title, and her name was initially listed among the players who earned the Sports Merit Gold Medal rather than being presented as the team captain. This distinction mattered for the official record and honors, as the medal is awarded for outstanding achievements by national team athletes across Spain and is widely acknowledged in the sports community for elevating the profiles of top performers.
On Tuesday, the BOE published a ruling from the Ministry of Culture and Sports stating that the honor should be attributed to female players who contributed to the national team’s success, rather than naming a single captain. Ivana Andrés has publicly highlighted the broader significance of the award, noting that it represents the collective contribution of the entire squad and the pathway the team blazed for women’s football in the country. She emphasized that the recognition belongs to the whole squad and their shared achievement, not only to one individual.
Subsequent scrutiny revealed that the name of IhCardi, a sister figure linked to Galatasaray’s Argentine player who also has a notable online following, appeared in the initial list. This person ranked highly on the roster selected by the Supreme Sports Council (CSD). The council acknowledged a human error in the original publication and apologized to the players involved. Officials stated their intent to correct the record promptly and ensure the designation reflects the team’s shared success and the players’ professional backgrounds.
The BOE decision to award national team players stresses the alignment of sporting merit with professional achievements. The CSD highlighted that the recognition reflects overlapping values in players’ athletic performances and their broader professional histories, including leadership roles, dedication to the sport, and ongoing impact on young athletes nationwide. The correction reinforces the principle that team accomplishments are a collective triumph rather than the result of a single captain’s prominence, encouraging transparency and fairness in how honors are assigned and recorded for the national program.