Fermin Lopez out of the World Cup after serious foot injury.

It is a true shock for the Spanish national team! Fermin López, the young star of Barcelona and a key player in the victorious LaLiga campaign this season, is officially out of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in North America. An unexpected and devastating injury to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot has left the Spanish team on high alert, jeopardizing the current European champion’s aspirations in a highly demanding tournament.

Last Sunday, during the match between Barcelona and Betis, López was forced to leave at halftime after suffering a direct impact to his foot. The concern was quickly confirmed when, on Monday, the Catalan club released the medical diagnosis: a fracture of the fifth metatarsal, a serious injury that requires immediate surgery and an estimated recovery period of six to eight weeks. With this scenario, it becomes impossible for him to be included in the final list of 26 players that national coach Luis de la Fuente will announce on May 25.

For the forward from El Campillo, Huelva, this setback is a heavy blow. After winning the European Championship and the Olympic gold medal in 2024 with Spain, Fermin López had marked the 2026 World Cup as the next major goal in his international career, dreaming of a historic achievement: a triple crown of titles that would confirm his status as a legend of Spanish football. His debut in the biggest global football competition will now have to wait until 2030.

Luis de la Fuente finds himself deprived of one of his key players, who shone brilliantly in the recent season and would have been one of the pillars of the team in the pursuit of the world title. The absence of the Barcelona star necessitates strategic adjustments and leaves the Spanish national team in a delicate position, increasing the pressure on the squad to fill the gap left by a talent that promised to revolutionize the tournament.

This announcement leaves Spanish fans in shock, worried and awaiting new decisions that could mitigate the impact of this loss. The official confirmation of the squad list is set for next Monday, but the situation is already clear: Fermin López, one of the biggest prospects in Spanish football, will not be on the field at the World Cup, an absence that is sure to be felt in every game of La Roja.

This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).