2026 is going to be a very busy year for Belén Rodríguez Lario. The 19-year-old centre back is one of the cornerstones of Spain’s rebuild project for the 2029 IHF Women’s World Championship, as she has already impressed in the younger age category.

Take, for instance, the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship. Spain have been earmarked as one of the dark horses, but did not necessarily go into the favourites category, only for them to provide a fantastic performance in the People’s Republic of China.

The young “Guerreras” swept their opponents, including winning against Hungary in the semi-finals, 19:16, and against Denmark in the final, 23:22, to take the trophy home. And Rodríguez Lario was at the forefront of this performance, being named the MVP of the competition.

One year later, Rodríguez Lario was also in the All-Star team of the W19 EHF EURO 2025, where Spain finished second, losing the final against Germany, and now she is ready to feature for the first time in an official match for the senior team.

The 19-year-old centre back has already made her debut for the senior side, in two friendly matches against Slovakia, but now, in Kozani, Greece, she will finally break her duck in an official match, as Spain are due to play a doubleheader against the hosts and Israel this week in the Women’s EHF EURO 2026 Qualifiers, with their spot in the final tournament already in the bag.

 

“Without a doubt, I think it is the dream of every player who starts playing handball. And luckily, this week I will make my official debut, which is an experience I think I will never forget, especially because it is my biggest dream. Starting from such a young age and having this opportunity is something I want to take full advantage of,” says Rodríguez Lario.

Spain have been on somewhat of a downward trend over the last years. They were the only team to lose all their matches at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, ending up on the 12th place. At the EHF EURO 2024, they ended up 13th, missing the main round. One year later, the “Guerreras” were hit-and-miss at the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, ending up 14th.

That prompted a coaching change, with Joaquin Rocamora taking over Ambros Martin, with a clear objective – to rebuild the team, offer younger players a bigger chance. He was earmarked to be the best chance for this plan to be set in motion, as he previously coached the Spain junior women’s national team.

“In general, all my teammates, being the youngest, they all try to help me with anything. I already knew some of the players before I joined the national team, which made things easier from the start. Integrating with players who have so much experience, who compete in the Champions League every week, that is powerful for me, because I still have a long way to go to reach what some of them have already achieved. But from the coaching staff to the players, everyone has made it very easy for me and created a very comfortable situation,” adds the centre back.

 

However, the talent and know-how displayed by Rodríguez Lario will surely help her integrate immediately in the team. Take, for instance, what she did at the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, where Spain delivered a fantastic overall performance.

In the final against Denmark, she scored eight goals, adding to her overall tally in the competition, where she was Spain’s top scorer, with 41 goals. She also dished 15 assists, providing a penchant for understanding the game better and better.

“That tournament is something I will never forget, not only because of the win, but also because even if we had finished with the silver, I would probably remember it just as vividly. I have very beautiful memories of the World Championship in China. Above all, we are a group that has been working together for many years, and each championship is very special,” says Rodríguez Lario. 

“In that tournament, the last thing on my mind was the gold itself, what I remember most are the games, the exciting moments. Winning a World Championship final is an incredible feeling, but I think we carry with us not just the gold, but everything we worked for and everything that was behind it. In the end, all of that received its reward.”

However, being earmarked as a potential future starter for “Las Guerreras” is surely something that can bring pressure for a teenager.

Yet Rodríguez Lario has her feet firmly on the ground.

 

“I don't know if people have changed the way they perceive me, but what I know about myself is that it is never enough. I think I still have a lot of work to do. I was lucky enough to perform well in that championship, but it is also very much connected to how the team works. I don't know if I surprised anyone, but I know I have to do much more. In a way, I am just at the beginning,” says the centre back.

But before becoming a key starter for Spain’s senior national team, she still has some unfinished business. She will return to the People’s Republic of China for a second time, once again with this generation aiming for a medal, at the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, where Spain are one of the favourites to clinch another trophy, in June.

And, of course, to boost the credentials once more for a generation which can send some members for the 2029 IHF Women’s World Championship, which will take place in Spain.

“Honestly, my focus is not there yet, for the 2029 World Championship. This summer I already have the Junior World Championship, the last one I will be eligible for, and that is where my mind is right now. I am taking it step by step. In three years, many things can happen. But without a doubt, it is a long-term goal I will work towards. Playing a World Championship at home would be another dream come true — and being close to my family would make it even more special,” says the centre back.​​​​​​

Family is also paramount for Rodríguez Lario, and in her family, handball is, probably, the most important thing.

Belén’s older brother, Roberto Rodríguez Lario, has six caps for Spain’s national team and has been playing in France, at Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc Handball, since 2025, after spending four years at BM Benidorm and two more at Fraikin BM Granollers.

Her twin brother, Alfonso, is featuring at Bada Huesca in the Spanish league, was a silver medallist at the M17 EHF European Open in 2023 and also a member of the beach handball team in the younger age categories for Spain.

 

“My other brother and I started at the same time,  we were very young and had no choice in the matter! But honestly, it is very beautiful that the three of us live the same passion in different ways. We all understand what each other goes through. And my parents accompany us every step of the way. Without the family support we have, none of this would be so straightforward. Sharing this passion for handball with my brothers is something truly special.”

“We are obsessed. Handball is in our mouths all day, it is our lives, we dedicate so many hours to it. It is very difficult for a conversation to go by without handball coming up. But we also need our moments to breathe, to talk about other things. It is divided, but I will tell you, it is very hard for handball not to come up eventually,” adds Spain’s centre back.

And one day, she hopes that conversation will also include her participation at the Olympic Games – her biggest dream.

“I think playing at the Olympic Games. That is the most ambitious dream I have. But without putting too much pressure on myself. I would like to play for as long as I can, express myself to the fullest on the court, contribute to the national team, and achieve the goals I set for myself each season. You never know what will happen in ten years. But I hope it will involve playing handball. That would be my dream,” concludes Rodríguez Lario.