By Peter.
Barcelona’s prodigy Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old winger who’s already a Ballon d’Or runner-up and two-time Kopa Trophy winner, has earned a well-deserved recall to the Spain national team after sitting out last month’s World Cup qualifiers due to a nagging groin injury. Announced Friday by coach Luis de la Fuente, the selection signals Yamal’s full recovery and Spain’s intent to unleash their young star in the final stretch of Group E dominance.
Injury Setback and Triumphant Return
Yamal missed Spain’s October clashes against Georgia and Bulgaria after a pubalgia (groin) issue flared up post-international duty in September, sparking tensions between Barcelona and the national setup. Barça coach Hansi Flick publicly criticized the federation for allegedly playing Yamal on painkillers, leading to a two-to-three-week absence that sidelined him for four club matches. But after a steady rehab and a starring role in Barça’s midweek 3-3 Champions League thriller against Club Brugge—where he scored and assisted—Yamal dismissed online “lies” about his fitness and is now deemed in “perfect shape” by De la Fuente.
- De la Fuente’s Take: “The choice [to include Yamal] is obvious. We have to support him in his development—it’s everyone’s responsibility.”
- Club-Nation Harmony?: Despite past friction, Yamal’s inclusion alongside four other Barça players (Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Fermín López, and Pau Cubarsí) highlights a Barcelona-heavy squad, with Real Madrid contributing just one defender, Dean Huijsen.
Upcoming Fixtures: High Stakes in Tbilisi and Seville
Spain, the reigning European champions, host Turkey in Seville on November 18 before traveling to face Georgia in Tbilisi on November 15. Topping Group E with automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup firmly in sight, La Roja need just points from these games to seal their spot—making Yamal’s flair, chance creation, and curling long-range strikes all the more vital.
Yamal, who’s racked up 23 caps and 6 goals for Spain since his debut at 16, could make his 24th appearance soon. His Euro 2024 heroics—including four assists and a final assist—cemented his status as one of the world’s elite teens, and this window offers a chance to build on his Nations League semi-final brace against France in 2025.
Other Key Returns and Absences: Ruiz Fit, Pedri Out
The squad boasts another comeback story in Fabián Ruiz, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder who’s shaken off a leg injury from early October’s 2-1 Champions League win over Barcelona. Ruiz’s vision and passing will bolster Spain’s engine room.
However, De la Fuente faces injury headaches:
- Pedri (Barcelona): Midfield maestro sidelined again, a blow after his own fitness battles.
- Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid): Captain out with a knee issue.
- Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao): Winger nursing a hamstring strain.
- Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad): Defender recovering from a head knock.
Notable inclusions fill the gaps: Forwards like Mikel Oyarzabal, Yeremy Pino, Samu Aghehowa, and Borja Iglesias join the attack, while new faces like Marcos Llorente and Alex Baena add depth from earlier camps.
Full Spain Squad Breakdown
Here’s the 26-man roster for the November window:
Goalkeepers:
- Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao)
- David Raya (Arsenal)
- Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad)
Defenders:
- Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona)
- Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid)
- Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr)
- Ian Martínez (Real Sociedad)
- Pedro Porro (Tottenham)
- Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
Midfielders:
- Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
- Fabián Ruiz (PSG)
- Mikel Merino (Arsenal)
- Alex Baena (Villarreal)
- Fermín López (Barcelona)
Forwards:
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)
- Yeremy Pino (Villarreal)
- Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
- Samu Aghehowa (Atalanta)
- Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo)
(Compiled from official announcements; absences noted above.)
With Yamal back injecting dynamism into an already potent attack, Spain’s qualification campaign looks unassailable. De la Fuente’s mantra? Field the best, no rest needed. As La Roja eyes World Cup glory, all eyes will be on the teenage wizard to dazzle once more. ¡Vamos España! #SpainNT #LamineYamal
