Gavi

Gavi underwent knee surgery in September 2025 and spent roughly six months sidelined before forcing his way back into Barcelona's team under Hansi Flick, starting the club's final four matches of the season and quickly reclaiming a key role.

That form convinced Spain manager Luis de la Fuente to include him in the final World Cup squad, earning Gavi a second tournament appearance after a serious injury nearly cost him the chance entirely.

In the final itself, de la Fuente kept faith with the Fabian Ruiz-Rodri midfield pairing that had carried Spain past Belgium and France, leaving Gavi an unused substitute as Spain won 1-0 in extra time.

Gavi is a high-intensity box-to-box midfielder known for relentless pressing and tackling rather than any single standout attacking trait -- the engine-room profile that made his long injury absence so costly to Barcelona's midfield balance.

He returns to Barcelona for 2026/27 as a World Cup champion despite not playing in the final, with his injury history now the main swing factor in how big a role he is given.