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.

One recent training session reportedly featured a noteworthy tackle from Gavi on teammate Rodri. De la Fuente defended the intensity.

A career defined by being ahead of schedule

Gavi debuted for Spain’s senior national team in October 2021 at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest player to represent La Roja at the time. As of early 2026, Gavi has accumulated 28 caps and 5 goals for Spain. Those numbers would be respectable for any midfielder in his early twenties. Factor in that he lost roughly 18 months of his career to injury, and they start to look even more impressive.

Spain’s midfield depth and World Cup ambitions

Spain heading into the 2026 World Cup is not short on midfield options. The presence of Rodri alone gives De la Fuente one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet. Gavi occupies a slightly different space than Pedri, his Barcelona teammate, offering more defensive bite and physical intensity.

The opening match against Cabo Verde on June 15 should, on paper, be a manageable start for Spain. Gavi’s inclusion in the starting eleven for this upcoming match signals that the coaching staff see him as part of that first-choice group.