The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially begun. While the excitement among football enthusiasts is at its peak, a piece of disappointing news has emerged for fans on the other hand. News concerning Spain’s legendary 34-year-old footballer, Dani Carvajal, has left fans stunned. Specifically, the news is that the Spanish national team has excluded Dani Carvajal from their 2026 World Cup squad.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente did not include Carvajal among the 55 players initially selected for the preliminary World Cup squad. His name is notably absent from the roster for the 2026 World Cup. Due to being unfit, Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal has been ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup team. Prior to this, Carvajal—who wears the number 2 jersey—had hinted at retiring after the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Spain’s Defensive Wall Weakens for FIFA World Cup 2026
He had stated: “If I play for Spain, win the World Cup, and secure my seventh UEFA Champions League trophy, I will retire.” It is worth noting that, in the history of football, no player has won more UEFA Champions League titles than Dani Carvajal.
Now, it appears that this dream of his will not come to fruition. According to reports emerging from the sports world, the veteran defender is currently unfit, and the likelihood of him regaining fitness before the FIFA World Cup is slim. He is widely regarded as one of the most experienced players in the country. The dynamic defender Carvajal has delivered spectacular performances on numerous occasions for both his country and Real Madrid, leading them to victory.
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By winning titles in both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga, he has achieved immense fame and acclaim within the world of football. His absence would prove to be a major blow to Spain’s national football team for the FIFA World Cup, as it would significantly weaken the team’s defensive line. Notably, Spain is set to face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.
Although Carvajal has been battling injuries in recent months, he has nevertheless continued to play a pivotal role as a key player for both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, maintaining his top form throughout. The news of Carvajal’s exclusion from the Spanish squad list has sent a wave of disappointment through the Real Madrid camp, as well as among football enthusiasts and his fans across the globe.
Delivered a Stellar Performance in the Finals of These Leagues
The 2023-24 season proved to be truly magnificent for Dani Carvajal; he delivered exceptional performances across various competitions—including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA EURO 2024, La Liga, and the Supercopa—and was notably named the Man of the Match in the UEFA Champions League final. Furthermore, he contributed 7 goals and 6 assists in the finals. On the strength of his performance, he was named to the Team of the Tournament for the 2023-24 UCL season.
Outstanding Performance While at Real Madrid
Dani’s career is a success story in itself; while playing for Madrid, he has achieved remarkable feats. In 2024, during the Supercopa de España championship, he played in two matches for Madrid, recording one goal and one assist. In these matches, he was shown a red card once, while his yellow card count remained at zero. Also in 2024, playing in a single match in the UEFA Super Cup, he registered zero goals and zero assists, with no yellow or red cards.
Turning to the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League season, he played 10 matches for Real Madrid, scoring one goal and providing one assist; during this period, he received three yellow cards and zero red cards. Subsequently, in the 2024-25 season, he played two matches, recording one assist with zero goals, and received no yellow or red cards. In the 2025-26 season, across five matches in this league, he recorded zero goals and assists, while receiving zero yellow cards and one red card.
Regarding La Liga, in the 2023-24 season, he played 28 matches, scoring four goals and providing three assists, while receiving three yellow cards and one red card. In the 2024-25 season, across eight matches, he recorded one goal and zero assists, receiving one yellow card and zero red cards. Finally, in the 2025-26 La Liga season, across 14 matches, he registered zero goals and zero assists, with no yellow or red cards.
Delivered Historic Performances Across Two FIFA World Cups Representing Spain
Shining a light on his career playing for the Spanish national team, he appeared in one match during the 2025–29 World Cup Qualifiers, recording zero goals, zero assists, and receiving neither a yellow nor a red card. Similarly, in the 2021–22 season, his statistics—ranging from matches played and goals scored to assists and both yellow and red cards—all stood at zero. Likewise, in the 2016–17 season, his tally across all categories, including matches played, remained at zero.
Turning to UEFA Euro 2024, he played in five matches, scoring one goal and providing zero assists, while receiving one yellow card and one red card.
In the 2019–20 UEFA Euro Qualifiers, across four matches, his count for goals, assists, and both types of cards remained at zero. As for the World Cup, during the 2022 tournament, he played in two matches where his statistics—from goals and assists to both yellow and red cards—all stood at zero. Furthermore, in three other World Cup matches, he recorded zero goals and one assist, while his tally for both yellow and red cards remained at zero.
Dani Carvajal Career & Titles
He dreamed of lifting a 7th UCL trophy and winning the FIFA World Cup with Spain before walking away from the game as a legend. Carvajal was part of the Spain team at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
- UEFA Champions League: 6 titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024).
- La Liga: 4 titles (2017, 2020, 2022, 2024).
- Other Titles: Multiple Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cups, UEFA Super Cups, and FIFA Club World Cups.