Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez has been ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for Spain after suffering a broken metatarsal in his right foot.
The 23-year-old suffered the injury in Barcelona’s penultimate La Liga match of the season as they edged Real Betis 3-1 in their clash on Sunday.
Lopez had been one of the club’s most consistent performers this season and was tipped to make the final cut for Luis de la Fuente’s squad to represent Spain at the World Cup.
However, he is now expected to miss the next few weeks of action and will be hoping to return to action in Barcelona’s preseason campaign.
“The operation went very well and I’m already looking forward to coming back stronger, both physically and mentally,” Lopez wrote on social media after undergoing operation.
“Life and football can be cruel when you least expect it or deserve it. But you have to accept that it’s all part of the journey.
“It’s a very tough time for me and yet another challenge in my career that I will overcome – of that you can be sure. Now it’s time to support the national team and my team-mates from home”, he added.
Lopez scored 13 goals and provided 17 assists for Barcelona across all competitions this season, helping them to win both the league title and the Spanish Supercup.
He has seven caps for the national team and helped the country to gold medal at the Paris Olympic games in 2024.
Meanwhile, Spain are also sweating on the fitness of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who was ruled out of the season last month for Barcelona, although he is expected to return in time for the World Cup.
The 2010 world champions will face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in group H of the World Cup, with their opening game against the African side on June 15.
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