Mapi León

María Pilar León Cebrián, widely known as Mapi León, was born on June 13, 1995. A talented Spanish professional footballer, she has made a significant impact in the world of women's football as a defender for Liga F club Barcelona and the Spain national team.

León's football journey began at her hometown club, Prainsa Zaragoza, before she moved to Espanyol and later Atlético Madrid. It was at Atlético where she transitioned from a left-back to a centre-back, a change that was pivotal in her career under the mentorship of coach Ángel Villacampa. During her time at Atlético, she celebrated her first league and Copa de la Reina titles.

In 2017, Mapi León made history as the first paid transfer in Spanish women's football, signing with Barcelona for a fee of fifty thousand euros. Since joining Barcelona, she has enjoyed remarkable success, winning four Copas de la Reina, three league titles, and two Supercopa Femenina. On the European stage, she has competed in three Champions League finals, securing victory in 2021 as part of the club's first continental treble.

Internationally, León has represented the Spanish national team since her debut in 2016 during the qualifiers for the 2017 UEFA Euro. She has participated in three major international tournaments, including UEFA Euro 2017, the 2019 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2022. Notably, from 2022 to 2025, she chose to step back from the national team due to concerns over unequal and unfair conditions, before making her return for the 2025 Nations League Finals.