The Barcelona midfielder will undergo surgery for an injury to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot and will be left out of Luis de la Fuente's final roster.
The Spain National Team received a heavy blow just weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup. Fermín López suffered a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot and all indications suggest he will miss the World Cup, marking another significant loss for Luis de la Fuente's team.
The midfielder from Barcelona had been dealing with physical discomfort after the match against Real Betis, and on Monday the worst-case scenario was confirmed following medical examinations conducted by the Catalan club. "The first team player Fermín López suffered a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot during yesterday's match. The player will undergo surgical treatment", Barcelona reported in an official statement.
The injury will require the 23-year-old player to undergo surgery and face a recovery period estimated between six and eight weeks, timelines that are incompatible with the start of the World Cup, which will begin in less than a month. Although his absence has not yet been officially confirmed by the Spanish national team, in Spain, he is already practically ruled out of the final roster that Luis de la Fuente will announce on May 25.
This loss represents a significant problem for La Roja. Despite Fermín having only played seven matches with the senior national team, his growth during the last season had made him an increasingly considered player within the squad.
The midfielder had been accumulating minutes in recent call-ups and arrived backed by a great present both at Barcelona and with the national team. In addition to being a champion of Euro 2024, he also shone at the Paris Olympic Games, where he won gold and finished as the top scorer for the Spanish team with six goals, including two in the final against France.
Fermín López had been one of the great figures of Spain in the 2024 Olympics.
In light of this situation, the name gaining traction to take his place is Alberto Moleiro. The midfielder has been having a notable season with Villarreal and, although he initially seemed likely to miss the final cut for the World Cup, he now appears as one of the main candidates to make it into the final roster.
Meanwhile, the Spanish national team is also closely monitoring the physical progress of other important figures such as Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Mikel Merino. All three are dealing with discomfort and would arrive just in time for the tournament, although initially, they are expected to be part of the World Cup call-up.
