Laia, a centurion for Spain across the age categories

If there is one thing that defines Laia Aleixandri, it is her ambition and her desire to "win, something so simple and straightforward yet so important," which has shaped her character both on and off the pitch. Laia confesses that this drive to win has accompanied her throughout her entire career, a journey that, from her debut for the U16s to now, has led her to reach the milestone of one hundred matches.

The centurion, Laia, joins us to look back on her time in each and every age category before making the leap to the senior squad, recalling key moments and her best experiences fighting for glory with the national team badge on her chest. But without doubt, some moments stand out, such as her first call-up to the squad or the day of her debut: "Making your debut with the senior team is a day that stays with you forever, and I was lucky enough to score on my debut too. A very special day that will always remain with me."

At 24 years old, the Santa Coloma de Gramanet native reminisces about her time in the red of Spain, becoming emotional about the innocence of that young girl who arrived full of excitement and with a firm intention to grow, improve, and give her best: "The day the squad was announced and I was called up for the Spanish National Team for the first time was unforgettable. My parents told me the news, I was with my friends at school and it was an incredible feeling. When I arrived here, I was surrounded by the best players in my age category in Spain at the time, meeting new people, getting a little closer to the elite, and I remember it with great affection and excitement. We weren’t fully aware that we were starting a beautiful journey, though one that would be difficult. I remember a very ambitious Laia, full of determination. A little naïve, but also starting to realise, ‘wow! The national team is has called me up, and I'm surrounded by the best.’"

The young defender reached 100 matches across all the categories she has played in. And her 100th cap happened at none other than the legendary Wembley stadium. Three matches with the U16s; 35 with the U17s; 15 with the U19s; 10 with the U20s; and 37 with the senior team. Throughout this magnificent journey from the youth ranks to the very top, she has scored 13 goals and won several titles, including the 2015 U17 European Championships in Iceland and the UEFA Women's Nations League.

"Competing. There’s nothing like competing," Laia reflects—something she knows well after reaching her century for the nation's favourite team. Her dream: to keep writing new chapters in the history of the national team.