Spain Make Major Decision on Real Madrid Star Dani Carvajal

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Spain Make Major Decision on Real Madrid Star Dani Carvajal

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated May 12, 2026 9:21 AM ET

Dani Carvajal has had a rough stretch to close out his season. The Real Madrid captain has been dealing with injuries that kept disrupting his rhythm throughout the campaign, and with his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu set to expire this summer, the uncertainty around his future has been building for months.

The club has already signaled they are not planning to hand him an extension, making every week that passes feel a little heavier for the veteran right back.

Now, on top of everything else, Spain have delivered a blow that stings even more.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Carvajal was not included in Spain's extended 55-man pre-selection squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with manager Luis de la Fuente leaving him out of preliminary plans for the tournament.

Real Madrid C.F. defender Dani Carvajal during the warm up before the match during a round of 16 match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.Hannah Mckay-Reuters via Imagn Images

For a player who has spent over a decade as one of the key figures in the Spanish setup, the omission puts a serious dent in his hopes of representing his country one last time before retirement.

Injury Concern Adds to Carvajal's World Cup Blow

The timing makes it harder to take. Reports this month confirmed that Carvajal fractured the distal phalanx of the fifth toe on his right foot, forcing him out during a critical part of the club season.

It is not the same scale as the ACL injuries he worked through earlier in his career but it arrived at the worst possible moment, raising questions about his fitness heading into Spain's international preparations.

Since making his debut in 2014, Carvajal has earned 52 caps and served as a reliable bridge between Spain's legendary generation and the newer wave coming through, including Lamine Yamal. Missing out on a final World Cup would be a difficult way for that chapter to end.

Spain open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15 in Group H, with matches against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay to follow. De la Fuente's squad is taking shape fast, and right now, Carvajal is not part of it.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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