Spain Wold Cup goal scorer mourns father: ‘Best and worst day of my life’

In the 29th minute of the 2023 World Cup final, Olga Carmona scored on a left-footed shot to give Spain a 1-0 lead over England. It proved to be the decisive goal in the match, as neither team would score the rest of the way.

Carmona beamed afterwards, accepting her gold medal and celebrating with her teammates. Then she learned tragic news: Her father had died before the match. Her family waited until after the celebration to tell her.

“Yesterday was the best and worst day of my life,” Carmona wrote on X. “I know that you would want to see me enjoying this historic moment, so that’s why I’ll be with my teammates, so that from where you are you know that this star is also yours, dad.”

No tengo palabras para agradecer todo vuestro cariño.

Ayer fue el mejor y el peor día de mi vida.

Sé que tú querrías verme disfrutar de este momento histórico, por eso estaré con mis compañeras, para que desde donde estés sepas que esta estrella también es tuya papá🌟 pic.twitter.com/U0FKunGdml

— Olga Carmona (@7olgacarmona) August 21, 2023

Carmona also scored the winner in Spain’s 2-1 victory over Sweden in the semifinal. With her goal against England, she became the first player since former USWNT captain Carli Lloyd to score in a World Cup semifinal and final.

A 23-year-old defender for Real Madrid, Carmona said her father gave her “the strength to achieve something unique.”

“And without knowing it, I had my Star before the game started,” Carmona wrote on X. “I know that you were watching me tonight and that you are proud of me. Rest in peace, dad.”

Spain’s win has not been without controversy. During the postgame celebration, Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), kissed star Jenni Hermoso on the lips, sparking mass criticism.

But the program has rallied around Carmona in the wake of her emotional World Cup final.

“We love you, Olga,” the federation wrote on X. “You are part of the history of Spanish soccer.”