Salma Paralluelo, 19, emerges as star in Spain's run to Women's World Cup final

Salma Paralluelo could have been preparing for next year's Olympics if she'd decided to stick with track and not make the switch to soccer.

But she did pick soccer add the 19-year-old winger has been a super-sub that helped lift Spain into the Women's World Cup final. Spain plays England on Sunday in the first all-European final since 2003.

"We're over the moon to be through to the final," she said. "It's incomparable. It's so hard to get here and we managed to do so. And now we can dream big."

Paralluelo has been one of the brightest young stars of the tournament and scored two crucial goals to help Spain inch closer to its first major trophy.

Both times she came off the bench and both times she earned Player of the Match honours. She also became the youngest player to score an extra-time goal in the World Cup.

"Salma is a player with an enormous potential. And she's not reached her best yet," Spain coach Jorge Vilda said. "She's a very young player who has been training one year in football specifically, and the best of Salma we'll see it in the future. Now she's excellent, but in the future, it's going to be much more."

Paralluelo is among several young players who have emerged at the World Cup, including 18-year-old Colombia forward Linda Caicedo, 20-year-old Australian forward Mary Fowler, and 21-year-old forward Lauren James of England.

Japan's Hinata Miyazawa, 23, leads the Golden Boot race with five goals.

As a child growing up in Zaragoza, Spain, Paralluelo excelled at both soccer and track. She set under-20 records for Spain in the 400 meters and the 400 hurdles. She also competed in the 2019 European Indoor Championships.

At the same time, she was winning trophies for her country in soccer. She was on the