Martin Zubimendi has still not played a single minute for Spain at the 2026 World Cup, despite manager Luis de la Fuente hailing the Arsenal midfielder as the second-best player in his position anywhere in the world.
According to comments carried by Yahoo Sports this week, De la Fuente has kept faith with Manchester City’s Rodri as his first-choice defensive midfielder through Spain’s first six matches of the tournament, leaving Zubimendi on the bench as La Roja reached Tuesday’s semi-final against France. He is one of six Spain squad members yet to feature at the tournament.
Luis De La Fuente Defends Rodri Selection Amid Zubimendi Praise
De la Fuente has been open about his thinking, telling reporters that Zubimendi is “the second best in the world in his position” but that Rodri remains his first choice for the role against Spain’s toughest opposition. It echoes the pattern from the Euro 2024 final, when Zubimendi came on for an injured Rodri at half-time against England and helped Spain see out the win.
Zubimendi joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad in a £51m deal and was a key figure as Mikel Merino and the rest of Mikel Arteta’s squad won the Premier League title this season, making his lack of World Cup minutes a striking contrast to his club form. Merino, by comparison, has started regularly for Spain and scored the extra-time winner in the quarter-final.
With Spain into the last four, De la Fuente’s praise for Zubimendi will offer some consolation, and Arsenal supporters may see the quiet tournament as a blessing in disguise — their midfielder is set to return for pre-season training fresher than several of his World Cup-heavy team-mates.
