Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal's hopes of a final international farewell with Spain have been dashed. The veteran right-back, who has been a cornerstone for both club and country, has been omitted from Spain's preliminary 55-man squad for the 2026 World Cup by manager Luis de la Fuente.

While the final 26-man squad won't be announced until May 30th, the long-list leak has already sparked conversations across the football world. Among those reportedly included are Barcelona's midfield maestro Gavi, alongside teammates Joan Garcia and Pau Cubarsi. Meanwhile, players like Eric Garcia face an anxious wait to see if they'll make the cut.

De la Fuente had previously hinted at keeping the door open for Carvajal, suggesting he would monitor the 34-year-old's fitness before making a decision. Carvajal returned to training with Real Madrid on Wednesday after recovering from a minor hamstring injury, but it appears that wasn't enough to convince the Spain boss he's back to peak form. According to Cadena Cope, the right-back has been left out entirely.

Interestingly, several of Carvajal's Real Madrid teammates have made the long-list, including Dean Huijsen, Fran Garcia, and Gonzalo Garcia. However, only Huijsen is considered a strong candidate for the final squad. Another key figure from Spain's triumphant 2024 European Championship campaign has also been left out: former captain Alvaro Morata. The ex-Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid striker has struggled to find form at Como in Serie A and has been absent from de la Fuente's plans for the past year.

For fans and collectors of Spain's iconic red jersey, the absence of these veterans marks the end of an era. But as the new generation steps up, there's plenty of excitement ahead for La Roja's World Cup journey.