Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí told ESPN she has not played this season because she is still dealing with pain after breaking her leg last year. Bonmatí, 28, returned in May after five months out, making seven appearances for Barça, including the Champions League final against OL Lyonnes. She also played twice for Spain in the summer, but has stepped back to protect her career long-term.

"I had a serious injury last season," Bonmatí said after announcing her new role as a Team Gatorade ambassador. "In terms of all the tests and scans, everything is perfect, but there are some things which are uncontrollable, like the pain. It limits you. I was tired of living with the pain, not just playing and training, but in my daily life. So I took the decision with the club to follow an individual plan at the start of this season to return as soon as possible, above all, without pain."

Bonmatí says the plan is unrelated to Spain's World Cup defence next summer in Brazil. "I'm not doing this for the World Cup," she said. "The precautions I am taking are to ensure I have a long career."

There is no fixed return date, but she has Barça's matches against Real Madrid (Oct. 4) and Arsenal (Nov. 11) at Spotify Camp Nou in mind. "I hope to be back before the Arsenal game," she said. "Playing Champions League games at Camp Nou is always special."