U20 WWC Stars: Weronika Araśniewicz. Barcelona, Wolfsburg and now tournament at home.

Polish female players are starting to make their mark on world football. The movement was spearheaded by national team captain Ewa Pajor, who led Poland to their first-ever major international tournament. And now another hugely exciting generation is emerging, one that is currently competing at a U20 World Cup on home soil. Among them, there is one player you definitely should not miss: Weronika Araśniewicz.

Before the U20 World Cup kicked off in her native Poland, Weronika Araśniewicz managed to score in the UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying. And it was no ordinary goal. Wolfsburg travelled to Inter Milan defending a two-goal advantage from the first leg, but found themselves in trouble in the return fixture, which eventually went all the way to extra time.

The 18-year-old Araśniewicz came off the bench and found the net in extra time. When that still was not enough to decide the tie, it went to penalties. The Polish midfielder converted her spot-kick in the shootout too, but it ultimately wasn't enough for Wolfsburg, with Inter pulling off a surprise victory to reach the Women's Champions League.

It wasn't easy for Araśniewicz to put the disappointment behind her. The Champions League, she says, has been a childhood dream. But she didn't have much time to dwell on it. Rather than flying back to Wolfsburg with her teammates from Milan, she headed straight to Poland, where another major tournament in her still very young career awaited her – the U20 World Cup. On home soil.

The Barcelona dream

Araśniewicz was born in Warsaw and started playing football at the aptly named Diamenty Warszawa. And it did not take long before one of Poland's “diamonds” caught the attention of some of Europe's biggest clubs.

The turning point came in 2024. Araśniewicz was part of the Poland team that won bronze at the U17 European Championship and qualified for the U17 World Cup for the first time in the country's history. Her performances did not go unnoticed and, while she was still only 16, an offer arrived that was difficult to turn down: FC Barcelona. The home of her footballing idol, Robert Lewandowski.

In Catalonia, she played for Barcelona's B and C teams. Her time in Spain ultimately lasted just one season, though. Her next destination was a club that had already been aware of her before she moved to Barcelona – VfL Wolfsburg.

From Barcelona to Wolfsburg

The German giants had already identified Araśniewicz in 2024, when she spent time on trial at the club. She eventually chose Barcelona, but Wolfsburg did not forget about her. In the summer of 2025, they signed her on a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent.

She initially joined the U20 side in the 2. Bundesliga, with her pathway towards the first team expected to be gradual. But Araśniewicz impressed the club enough for Wolfsburg to exercise their option after just one season, sign her permanently from Barcelona and promote her straight into their Bundesliga squad.

And she did not have to wait long for her opportunity. Before leaving for the U20 World Cup on home soil, she had already scored her first Bundesliga goal as well as her first in the Women's Champions League.

All that at just 18 years old. And we can't wait to see how brightly she shines at a U20 World Cup in her own country.