Ana Sevilla Luján, born on September 20, 1991, in Cuenca, has not let her smile fade. It’s been 423 days since she abruptly had to pause doing what she loves most. On November 19, 2022, during a League match against Marín at the Municipal Pavilion of A Raña, she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. Dr. Manuel Leyes and his medical team at La Luz Hospital operated on the Futsi player from Navalcarnero, and after 13 months, Ana has exclusively shared her journey with Relief.
Reflecting on her career, Ana admits, “I had never experienced a serious injury nor had I been away from the court for an extended period. Initially, it’s shocking, and then you go through phases. There were challenging moments, realizing I’m not progressing, but it’s about patience, perseverance, and believing that I will overcome this.”
At 32 years old, Ana dreams of returning to and surpassing 300 games with the red and white jersey, playing alongside her inseparable teammate, Leti. After facing fibrosis in her operated knee, Ana confesses, “The recovery is complex. Timelines are set, but not everyone meets them. Each person responds differently. The injury was more aggressive than usual. Progress is slow, but it seems like I’m improving, and we’re starting to see some light, which is crucial.”
With 121 appearances, Ana holds the record for wearing the Spanish National Team shirt the most times. Recently featured in the documentary ‘The Final Countdown: Road to Equality,’ she narrates her injury and recovery journey alongside her physiotherapist, Ibán Urrutia, and discusses the international stars’ crusade before FIFA to participate in the 2025 World Championship. Ana emphasizes, “I’ll focus on recovery first, hopefully returning to my level, and I hope Coach Claudio Pons considers me for selection so I can enjoy playing again.”
Her readaptation specialist, César Collazo, mentions in the documentary, “Ana had never worked on strength, and now it will provide something new, not just physically but also psychologically.” Despite the attention on her return, Ana cautions, “I’ll work hard without setting a date or limit. I don’t want to overwhelm myself. I’ll gauge how my knee responds, but I’ll do everything in my power to be back.”
FIFA confirmed on October 4 that the inaugural edition of the World Championship will be in 2025.
Ana recalls, “I was at home, very happy. We had heard rumors of a competition, but it caught me by surprise, and I got excited.” Spain aims to host, and Ana sees it as another goal to work towards.
Expressing her ambitions, Ana states, “The competition is a dream for many generations, and if we can win it, imagine. It would be another dream come true, and we have to work for it.” She emphasizes the need for support and sponsorships, claiming, “We’ve been three-time European champions, moving many people. We need people to love and support us.”
Named the second-best player in the world in 2019, Ana, with four leagues, three Spanish Cups, and four Super Cups, now serves as the coordinator for the women’s section of the Movistar Inter Academy since May 2023. She advocates for the importance of role models for new generations, acknowledging that a World Cup is crucial for aspiring girls.
While Ana feels “healthy envy” for women’s football achievements, she hopes for unity to reduce the gender gap. She asserts, “We can only work to diminish it and ensure women’s sports, especially futsal, continues to grow.”
Ana declares without hesitation that Primera Futsal Iberdrola is the best league globally. She notes the increasing competitiveness and the positive impact of foreign players, including her great rival, Amandinha, a Brazilian star playing for Melilla Ciudad del Deporte Torreblanca CF. Amandinha expresses the collective longing for Ana’s return, a sentiment shared by many.