Gavi is back in Spain’s starting eleven. For a player who spent the better part of two years watching football from a treatment room, that sentence carries more weight than it looks.
The 21-year-old FC Barcelona midfielder has been named in the starting lineup for Spain’s upcoming match, marking another milestone in what has become one of the more compelling comeback narratives in European football.
From treatment table to starting XI
A serious knee injury kept him sidelined through much of 2024 and 2025. He made his competitive return at the beginning of 2026.
National team coach Luis de la Fuente included Gavi in Spain’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, announcing the selection on May 25, 2026. Spain’s opening match in the tournament is scheduled for June 15, 2026, against Cabo Verde at Atlanta Stadium.
