Spain suffered a major blow ahead of the FIFA World Cup after Fermin Lopez was ruled out with a broken foot.
The FC Barcelona midfielder fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Real Betis and will undergo surgery. Lopez was expected to be part of Spain’s 26-man squad after an impressive season in which he scored 13 goals and provided 17 assists in 48 appearances. The 23-year-old had become a key player for Barcelona and previously featured in Spain’s successful Euro 2024 campaign.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente now faces a midfield selection headache ahead of the World Cup campaign starting next month.