Vicky López, the future of 'La Roja' is here.

In July 2013, Spain returned to the Women's European Championship after many years. In the second half of the opening match against England, Alexia Putellas made her debut at a major tournament, scoring in her first international appearance (2-3). She was 19 years old. Twelve years later, history repeated itself on Thursday in Bern with Vicky López, who admires the Mollet native. A debut and a goal. But with some differences and nuances. López started against Portugal (playing alongside Alexia) and is only 18 years old.

None of this affected Barcelona 's young star, who made the most of the opportunity afforded her by the rest Aitana needed after her meningitis to shine at the Euros. "Here there are no starters or substitutes. Vicky is Vicky and doesn't replace anyone, whether she's playing inside or out. She's one of the 23. She's put her strengths at the service of the team," praised Alexia, who has always been her role model.

Same as against Japan The youngest player in the national team replaces Aitana, the current Ballon d'Or winner, with a poise that belies her age.

As was the case in the friendly against Japan, she was a starter and scored a goal playing as a right winger. Montse Tomé wanted to continue what worked in the warm-up match at Butarque, and López didn't disappoint once again. "It was very special because when they told me I'd be starting in my first Euro, I was so happy inside. It's very emotional, and I'll always remember this day," she confessed, still in her shower, wearing a bib at the Wankdorf Stadium. "I try to make the most of every minute they give me, to be myself little by little, and I'm happy for Montse's trust and the minutes she's given me," she expressed her gratitude to the national team coach for choosing her.

It was only her eleventh international match and her fourth goal. After a pass from Mariona, she dived to the ground to finish the ball and make it 2-0. “For me, it's a great goal. She told me it wasn't that great, but I'd love to score one like that, throwing myself on the ground. I don't know if I've ever done it,” said Esther González, who knows a thing or two about scoring.

Marked date "It was very special when they told me I'd be starting in my first Euro. It's very emotional, and I'll always remember this day," he said after the match.

Vicky López, who was a reserve at the Paris Games but didn't play, is the youngest player to score for the national team in a continental tournament. Her goal, as always, has a special dedication: her mother, who passed away in 2018. "First of all, I want to thank God for bringing me here at just 18 years old. My mother in heaven takes care of me, and so does my family, who have been the pillar of my life," she explained.

The poise and confidence with which she played were unbecoming of her age. She made 71 passes, on par with Alexia and Mariona, and missed only six of her 52 attempted passes. “She played a super complete game, very mature and choosing well what she needed in every play. That's the hardest part in the end when you don't have as much experience, but she played as if she'd been here for ten years,” praised Putellas. A double Ballon d'Or winner's praise.

But in addition to her play between the lines, her pace, and her vision, López is also a great dribbler. Against Portugal, she managed to make all five attempts, creating a couple of plays in the box that unhinged the Portuguese defense. "I really like dribbling. I can do these things, and I'm very happy," she says, somewhat overwhelmed.

Her companions take care of her Patri Guijarro played songs she likes in the locker room so she would be relaxed and comfortable.

But if anyone knows what the youngster is capable of, it's her teammates. That's why they looked after her in the moments leading up to the match. She considers Salma Paralluelo her big sister. And Patri Guijarro, who knows her well, played a few songs in the locker room that she knows her young Barcelona teammate likes to motivate her and make her feel comfortable, so she wouldn't get dizzy. They also gave her advice. "I should stay calm, be myself, join in, and enjoy myself on the pitch," the youngest reveals.

Perhaps others would be intimidated by the challenge. She's radiant and excited. "At the training camp, I see her doing very well, enjoying herself," adds Alexia, who asserts that talent trumps ID and age. "She's needed time to establish herself at the elite level, and that's normal because at 17 she was already competing with and against the best. Everyone needs that adaptation, and she's more than adapted now," she adds. If the present is good, she still has a lot of career ahead of her. "She's so young and everything is ahead of her," Esther marvels.

At home they help you keep your feet on the ground "My father told me that I played very well, but he gave me a hard time for some rebounds that I didn't convert," he reveals.

Vicky López has learned her lesson and prefers to focus on the team rather than herself. "We're in top form in front of goal. We were beasts in front of goal," she summed up the 5-0 victory, before predicting that Spain will have "a very great Euros."

But it can't all be praise. And as is often the case, family is more demanding than the press or professional colleagues. And a phone call brought her back to earth. "My father told me I played very well and also gave me a hard time about a rebound that ended up on the edge of the box and I didn't put it down," López explained. Aitana might return to the starting lineup against Belgium, but Spain already knows that Vicky's clock works with Swiss precision. The future is already here.