He was supposed to be there. At 23 years old, Fermín López seemed to have all the cards in his hands to finally experience a World Cup with Spain. After a particularly successful 2025-26 season with FC Barcelona, the attacking midfielder had become a serious candidate for a place with La Roja. Then, just a few weeks before the tournament began, everything fell apart. A fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, suffered against Real Betis on May 17, forced him to undergo surgery and withdraw from the World Cup.
The timing was particularly cruel. Fermín was coming off a season in which he scored 13 goals and provided 17 assists for Barça. His absence kept him out of the biggest event of his young career, but also from a Spain team that would ultimately go on to win the competition. Since then, one idea seems to have guided his return: turning this immense frustration into fuel. His summer was difficult, but his response is already visible on the field.
Just days before the World Cup, Fermín was at the peak of his career trajectory. Regularly used by Hansi Flick, he had gradually become more important at Barça, despite particularly fierce competition. His ability to attack space, make runs in behind, and appear in unexpected areas had made him an almost indispensable part of the Catalan system. L’Équipe described him as a true “king of space,” capable of understanding open spaces and attacking them with great intelligence.
His statistics confirmed this progression: 48 appearances, 13 goals, and 17 assists in all competitions during the 2025-26 season. His situation with the national team was evolving as well. After winning Euro 2024 without truly establishing himself, followed by the Olympics that same year, Fermín had begun to take on a greater role in Luis de la Fuente’s plans. He had made seven appearances for Spain before the World Cup.
Everything seemed to be in place for the summer of 2026 to represent another step forward in his career. But his injury against Betis suddenly closed that door. A fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot, surgery, and several weeks of recovery: his World Cup dream was over before it had even begun.
The hardest part was not simply watching the competition from home. Spain ultimately won the tournament without him. Fermín therefore experienced a particularly cruel paradox: he had helped put himself in position to become part of the national team, but he could not participate when Spain reached the summit.
The player himself admitted that he went through an extremely difficult summer. After returning to Barça, he explained that he wanted to start the season in the best possible way after such a difficult period. A way of reminding everyone that behind the statistics and performances, this new season represents above all an opportunity for him to turn the page.
A competition that can become fuel against frustration
To get his revenge, however, Fermín will still have to continue earning his place at Barcelona. His talent does not guarantee him an undisputed starting role. The competition is particularly represented by Dani Olmo, another Spanish international capable of playing behind the striker.
The two players have different characteristics, but they regularly operate in similar areas. Olmo offers more in terms of technical control and play between the lines, while Fermín particularly stands out for his movement, intensity, and ability to attack space. This potential complementarity does not prevent direct competition for a place in Flick’s starting lineup.
But that battle can actually benefit Fermín. His profile gives his coach multiple options. He can play as an attacking midfielder, make runs forward from midfield, and even play higher up the field, particularly as a false nine. During the summer, he was also open to that possibility, saying he could adapt to the role.
And above all, Fermín has already started answering on the field.
His start to the 2026-27 season looks like that of a player who does not want to waste any more time. After scoring twice against Elche, he found the net again against Athletic Bilbao before putting on a spectacular performance at Mestalla. Against Valencia, he scored one goal and provided two assists in Barça’s 5-0 victory. He could even have added more to his tally with a shot off the post and another assist on a goal that was ultimately disallowed for Lamine Yamal.
It may only be the beginning, but the message is clear: Fermín has returned with the intention of making up for lost time.
Fermín López’s revenge is ultimately not just about a missed competition. It concerns an entire summer that was supposed to be the one in which he established himself on the international stage. He had the form, the statistics, and an increasingly important place in the national team’s plans. An injury took all of that away from him in a matter of minutes.
He obviously cannot rewrite the history of the 2026 World Cup. But he can write the story of the season that follows.
His objective will be twofold: become even more important at FC Barcelona and regain a long-term place with Spain. The contract extension through 2031, made official in January, also shows that Barça are counting on him for the long term.
In Barcelona, Fermín now has an additional weapon: the experience of frustration. He knows what it feels like to be just weeks away from a dream before watching it disappear. He also knows what it means to watch his teammates lift a trophy he would have loved to compete for.
So this season could be the season of his revenge.
Not revenge against a person or a club. Revenge against fate, against that injury, and against the opportunity he missed. At Mestalla, his goal and two assists have already offered a first glimpse of what Fermín can produce when he turns his frustration into energy.
The World Cup is over. Spain won without him. Fermín now has a new challenge: making sure his absence in 2026 is nothing more than an accident in an international career that is only just beginning.