Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono is a Spanish professional footballer and former elite sprinter and hurdler, born on 13 November 2003 in Zaragoza, Spain.
The daughter of Spanish father Jaime Paralluelo, originally from Catalonia, and Equatorial Guinean mother Diosdada Ayingono of Fang heritage, she grew up in a working-class neighbourhood in Zaragoza.
Known for her exceptional speed, powerful left foot, dribbling, and versatility as a forward or winger, she has become one of the standout talents in women’s football.
Siblings
Salma is the middle child of Jaime Paralluelo and Diosdada Ayingono.
She has two full brothers who are also footballers: older brother José Jaime and younger brother Lorenzo.
José Jaime has played in the amateur ranks for Roda, a club affiliated with Villarreal.
Lorenzo joined the Villarreal academy alongside Salma and has progressed through the club’s youth system.
In addition, she had an older half-brother, Florencio Eworo Ayingono, her mother’s son from a previous relationship.
Florencio had a severe congenital vision deficiency, which was a key reason their mother moved from Equatorial Guinea to Spain for better medical care.
Career
Paralluelo began her sporting journey in Zaragoza, excelling in both athletics, particularly sprinting and hurdles, and football.
In athletics, she set multiple Spanish age-group records and won medals, including at the European Youth Olympic Festival.
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She started her football career with local side UD San José and made her senior debut with Zaragoza CFF at the age of 15.
She moved to Villarreal in 2019, where she continued developing as a footballer while still competing in track and field.
A serious knee injury in 2021 interrupted her progress, but she recovered and joined FC Barcelona in 2022.
At Barcelona, she established herself as a key attacker, contributing to domestic and European success over several seasons before departing in 2026 to join French club OL Lyonnes.
Internationally, she rose rapidly through Spain’s youth ranks.
She featured in the under-17 side that won both the European Championship and World Cup in 2018 before helping Spain’s under-20 team claim the 2022 World Cup.
She made her senior Spain debut in 2022 and played a decisive role in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup triumph, scoring important goals in the knockout stages.
Accolades
Paralluelo is the first player in history, male or female, to win the FIFA World Cup at under-17, under-20, and senior levels.
With Spain, she claimed the 2018 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship, the 2018 and 2022 youth World Cups, and the 2023 senior World Cup, where she was named the tournament’s best young player.
At club level with Barcelona, she collected multiple Primera División titles, Copa de la Reina trophies, Spanish Super Cups, and UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
Individually, she finished third in the Ballon d’Or Féminin in both 2023 and 2024.
She also earned recognition as IFFHS Women’s World’s Best Youth Player and received other honours, including the Spanish National Sports Award earlier in her career.
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