Wonder Woman of the Week: Vero Boquete

Few people know this week's spotlight, but Vero Boquete might just be the most important female soccer player of the 21st Century. Not only is Boquete one of the top players in the world and one of the top players in her home country, Boquete is also responsible for massive social activism that advocates for the advancement of women in soccer- including being the epicenter for the campaign to include women in FIFA video games. Boquete is also the first female Spanish footballer to produce an autobiography, and she's inspiring new generations of women soccer players both in Spain and across the world.

Vero Boquete began her club career following high school when she joined the women's team in Zaragoza as well as serving in Spain's U-19 team at the international level. Between 2008 and 2017, Boquete served on her country's senior team including appearances at the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada. At this time, Boquete bounced around clubs between Spain and the US before the second pro league in the US folded- sending Boquete to Sweden to continue year-round play. When the NWSL launched as the third women's league in the US, Boquete returned to the States and played in both the US league and other leagues in Germany, France, and China.

During the lead-up to the 2015 World Cup, Vero Boquete started a petition to include women soccer players in FIFA video games. Boquete's petition reached monumental success by attracting so many signatures that FIFA 16- released just following the women's world cup- became the first to include women soccer players from several countries- especially Spain. In 2013, Boquete became the first female soccer player from Spain to produce an autobiography- detailing her rise in the soccer community as well as important information on the role of women in soccer in Spain.