WORLD CUP 2022
Balde call-up secures new World Cup record for Barcelona
Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde has been called onto the Spain roster for the 2022 World Cup to replace the injured José Luis Gayà
As a result of Alejandro Balde being called onto the Spain roster to replace the injured Valencia defender José Luis Gayà, Barcelona are the club that will be most represented at the 2022 World Cup. 17 Azulgrana players have been called up to play for their nations in Qatar, one more than Manchester City and Bayern Munich.
The German club initially had 17 players summoned but Sadio Mané's withdrawal from the Senegal roster due to injury, coupled with Balde’s call-up, has allowed Barça to snatch a new record away from the Bavarians: this is the first time that 17 players from one club will be involved at a World Cup.
The club will rightly be proud of the achievement but there will also be a slight worry over potential burnout for players who went through a congested fixture schedule in the first half of the season and will face a similarly testing run of games when domestic football gets back underway after the World Cup.
The full list of Barcelona players at the 2022 World Cup:
Spain
- Eric García
- Sergio Busquets
- Pedri
- Gavi
- Ansu Fati
- Ferran Torres
- Alejandro Balde
France
- Jules Koundé
- Ousmane Dembélé
Netherlands
- Frenkie De Jong
- Memphis Depay
Poland
- Robert Lewandowski
Denmark
- Andreas Christensen
Uruguay
- Ronald Araújo
Germany
- Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
Brazil
- Raphinha
There is even an argument to be made for adding two more players to the list, as Abde Ezzalzouli (Morocco) and Sergiño Dest (USMNT), currently on loan at Osasuna and AC Milan respectively, are contracted to Barcelona.
After Bayern and City (both 16), next on the list come Qatari club Al-Sadd (15), Manchester United (14) and Real Madrid (13).