Ansu Fati hopes for one more comeback with Spain as De la Fuente finalizes his World Cup roster

While enjoying a short break after a strong finish to the season with Monaco — three goals in his final six Ligue 1 matches — Ansu Fati is wondering whether, for the third time in his young career, the stars might align and carry him back into Spain’s squad for a major tournament.

Back in November 2022, when Luis Enrique named his 26‑man roster for the World Cup in Qatar, he openly admitted that calling up Ansu required a leap of faith.

Speaking to the media on November 11, 2022, the coach said: “Ansu has gone through a difficult process, personally and professionally. We’re excited about recovering his best version. The World Cup could be a huge stimulus for him, but there are doubts we need to clear”.

At that point, Ansu hadn’t played a minute in the Champions League that season and had scored only three La Liga goals. Still, Luis Enrique believed in the aura — and the finishing talent — that once made Ansu one of Spain’s brightest prodigies.

The Luis Enrique years: faith, setbacks and one last push

Luis Enrique had been the coach who handed Ansu his Spain debut in September 2020, just months before the meniscus injury that changed the trajectory of his career. Before Gavi shattered the record, Ansu had been Spain’s youngest-ever goalscorer. He even became the youngest scorer in Champions League history at 17 years and 40 days — a record he still holds.

In June 2023, Luis Enrique tried again, bringing him in for Nations League matches. Those training sessions became memorable: when the squad headed to the locker room, the coach stayed behind with Ansu for extra running and shooting drills. But he didn’t play a single minute.

Even so, Ansu made the World Cup roster. He scored against Jordan in a warm‑up match, and Luis Enrique tried to tap into his spark against Japan and Morocco — including the painful elimination at Education City Stadium. It wasn’t enough.

The De la Fuente era: a door closes, another cracks open

When Luis Enrique left, Ansu didn’t make Luis de la Fuente’s first squad. But fate intervened — painfully. A teammate’s injury (Nico Williams) opened a spot, and Ansu was called up for the Nations League Final Four in June 2023. He played short cameos against Italy and Croatia, and later earned minutes in Norway while on loan at Brighton.

Then he disappeared from the national team picture again.

Monaco revival — and a new glimmer of hope

This season seemed to turn against him with the arrival of coach Sèbastien Pocognoli. But Ansu finished strong, scoring key goals and regaining confidence. Suddenly, the door isn’t fully closed.

“Of course I dream of being on the list,” he said recently on SER Catalunya’s Qué T’hi Jugues. “It’s a huge responsibility to represent Spain. I’m working well, I feel good. Whether I return or not isn’t up to me, but I’ve done everything I can.”

A third rescue mission? After everything Ansu has lived — the meteoric rise, the injuries, the doubts, the comebacks — it no longer sounds impossible.

De la Fuente will announce his squad list for the 2026 World Cup from the RFEF headquarters in Las Rozas on Monday May 25 at 11:30 hours local time (5:30 a.m. EDT / 2:30 a.m. PDT).

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