Barcelona confirm Fermín López foot fracture

FC Barcelona said on May 18 that midfielder Fermín López has fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot and will undergo surgery, an injury that has put his place in Spain’s World Cup squad in doubt. The 23-year-old was forced off during Barcelona’s 3-1 La Liga win over Real Betis on May 17. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is due to announce his World Cup squad on May 25. Barcelona did not give a recovery timetable in its statement. ### What exactly did Barcelona confirm? FC Barcelona said the injury is a fracture to the fifth metatarsal in López’s right foot and that he will have surgery. The club’s statement did not specify where the operation will take place or how long he will be sidelined. The fifth metatarsal is the long bone on the outside of the foot. (fcbarcelona.com) Barcelona’s wording matters because the club confirmed both the diagnosis and the decision to operate, moving the case beyond a routine knock or short-term absence. That leaves López unavailable for the immediate end of Barcelona’s season and creates uncertainty around Spain’s June roster. ### When did the injury happen against Real Betis? Barcelona suffered the setback during its 3-1 home win over Real Betis on May 17 in La Liga. López had to leave the game after being injured during the match. The Betis match was Barcelona’s final home game of the league season, according to the club’s fixture page. (fcbarcelona.com) The result itself kept the focus on the title winners’ send-off, but López’s exit quickly became the main injury concern coming out of the game. ### Why is this such a problem for Spain right now? (fcbarcelona.com) The Spanish Football Federation said on May 18 that de la Fuente will announce Spain’s World Cup squad on Monday, May 25. That leaves a one-week gap between Barcelona’s diagnosis and the final selection. Spain’s training camp begins on May 30 at Las Rozas, and the team will play Peru on June 8 before opening the World Cup against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta, the federation said. (fcbarcelona.com) With surgery still to come, López now faces a race against dates that are already fixed on Spain’s calendar. (rfef.es) ### What role had López been playing for Barcelona? Fermín López, who turned 23 on May 11, has become an established first-team player at Barcelona after coming through La Masia and spending the 2022-23 season on loan at Linares Deportivo, according to the club’s player page. Barcelona lists him as a midfielder and says he has made 48 appearances in the 2025-26 season, with 13 goals and 17 assists. (rfef.es) Barcelona highlighted his output again in an April club article, saying his 2025-26 numbers were his best yet. That form had helped place him in Spain’s World Cup conversation before the injury. ### What happens next? May 25 is the next key date because that is when de la Fuente is scheduled to name Spain’s World Cup squad. (fcbarcelona.com) Barcelona said López will undergo surgery, while the federation said selected players are due to report to Las Rozas on May 30, with Spain then facing Peru on June 8 and Cape Verde on June 15. (fcbarcelona.com 1) (fcbarcelona.com 2)