Fermin Lopez Celebrates Spain Return After World Cup Heartbreak

Posted : 20 September 2026

Fermin Lopez has welcomed his return to the Spain national team after missing the 2026 World Cup through injury. The Barcelona midfielder spoke after his side came from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan and maintain their perfect start to the LaLiga season.

The 23-year-old was included in Luis de la Fuente's latest Spain squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. Lopez said missing the World Cup had been difficult, making his international recall an important moment after a strong opening to the new campaign.

"I am very happy to return to the national team. It was very hard not to go to the World Cup," Lopez said. He added that he was pleased with his start to the season and happy to receive another opportunity with Spain.

Lopez was also part of a Barcelona side that extended its winning run to seven LaLiga matches. The Catalan club remained at the top of the table with a perfect 21 points after recovering from Youssouf Fofana's early goal against Sevilla.

Raphinha was the central figure in the comeback. The Brazilian scored a hat-trick after Fofana had put Sevilla ahead, with Barcelona eventually securing a 3-1 victory.

The performance continued Raphinha's outstanding start to the campaign. His treble took him to 12 LaLiga goals in seven matches, according to Goal, leaving him at the top of the league's scoring chart.

Lopez praised Raphinha's ability to adapt to his new role in attack. The Barcelona midfielder described the Brazilian as an "unexpected number nine" and highlighted his ability to operate in different positions.

"Raphinha is our unexpected number nine. It's tremendous what Raphinha is doing," Lopez said. He also pointed out that the forward had not previously played regularly as a centre-forward but had quickly produced strong scoring numbers.

Barcelona's tactical approach also came under discussion after the victory. Lopez explained that Hansi Flick demands intense pressing immediately after possession is lost, with the players expected to work together to regain the ball high up the pitch.

The approach helped Barcelona recover from Sevilla's fast start. Goal reported that Barcelona dominated the second half and finished the match with 77% possession, while Sevilla managed only two shots.

For Lopez, the victory capped a significant week as he prepares to return to Spain duty. After missing the World Cup because of injury, the midfielder now has another opportunity to establish himself in De la Fuente's squad while continuing his strong club form.

Fermin Lopez Celebrates Spain Return After World Cup Heartbreak

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