The 106th minute of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at New York New Jersey Stadium will be etched forever in Spanish football folklore, and especially in the memories of those who made it happen.
Ferran Torres, Luis de la Fuente, Nico Williams, Rodri Hernandez, Unai Simon, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi… the list of household names runs through the entire 26-man squad and its head coach.
Exactly one month after lifting the game’s greatest prize, FIFA looks at where the heroes of that triumph stand now, and at their next great challenge in 2030, when Spain will be among the host nations.
David Raya (No1)
The Arsenal goalkeeper did not feature at the World Cup but already has silverware to his name in 2026/27, having played in the Gunners’ emphatic 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City.
Marc Pubill (2)
His only minutes came in stoppage time of the Round of 32, during the 3-0 win over Austria. The centre-back will now try to establish himself as one of the defensive pillars in an Atletico Madrid side strengthened by the arrival of Cristian Romero.
Alejandro Grimaldo (3)
Announced by Atletico during the World Cup, the left-back returns to Spain after a decade abroad with Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen, joining Diego Simeone’s Los Colchoneros.
Eric Garcia (4)
He made his World Cup debut in the 99th minute of the final. This season, he is expected to operate primarily at right-back for Barcelona, rather than in central defence or as a holding midfielder.
Marcos Llorente (5)
Alongside Pubill and Grimaldo, he is the third Spanish world champion in Atletico’s back line. The energetic wing-back heads into the new campaign as favourite to start on the right of the Rojiblancos’ five-man defence.
Mikel Merino (6)
Merino has also started the season with a trophy with Arsenal, though he did not feature against Manchester City. A key figure at the World Cup, where he scored against Portugal and Belgium, he will now be hoping for an injury-free campaign.
Ferran Torres (7)
The man of the moment, scorer of Spain’s defining goal of 2026, has begun a new chapter at Paris Saint-Germain. He joins Luis Enrique’s side as the French club target a third straight UEFA Champions League title.
Fabian Ruiz (8)
In Paris, Ferran Torres joins forces with Fabian Ruiz, who has already tasted both sides of finals football this season: winning the UEFA Super Cup and losing the Trophee des Champions against RC Lens. This is the midfielder’s fifth campaign with PSG.
Gavi (9)
The 22-year-old midfielder missed much of the 2025/26 season through injury and is now looking for a fresh start under Hansi Flick at Barcelona.
Dani Olmo (10)
Another important figure in this Barcelona side, Olmo remains one of the Blaugrana’s leading creative outlets.
Yeremy Pino (11)
After a remarkable 2026 in which he lifted both the World Cup and the UEFA Conference League, the winger will aim to stay central to a Crystal Palace side competing in the 2026/27 Europa League.
Pedro Porro (12)
A difficult club season ended in the best possible fashion. After finishing 17th in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, Porro became a world champion, contributing two goals along the way.
Joan Garcia (13)
The outstanding Barcelona goalkeeper will look to cement his status as his club’s undisputed No1, while pushing to do the same for Spain in the new cycle.
Aymeric Laporte (14)
One of the standout performers at the World Cup must now become the leader of Edin Terzic’s revamped Athletic Club. At 32, the left-footed defender returns from Spain’s title triumph, ready to take charge of the Rojiblancos’ back line.
Alex Baena (15)
The gifted attacking midfielder faces fresh competition from Atletico new boy Lee Kangin. Having started 28 of his 46 club appearances, Baena will be looking to take another step forward under Simeone.
Rodri (16)
The adidas Golden Ball winner at the World Cup and Spain’s midfield compass, Rodri returns to Spanish football with Barcelona. It is a statement signing for Flick, strengthening a midfield already featuring Pedri and Gavi, and a crucial move in the club’s pursuit of a first Champions League crown in 12 years.
Nico Williams (17)
If Laporte is tasked with leading Athletic Bilbao from the back, Williams must provide the thrust further forward after injuries disrupted his 2025/26 campaign.
Martin Zubimendi (18)
Overshadowed by Rodri at the World Cup, the excellent holding midfielder has already lifted the Community Shield with an Arsenal side that has added Bruno Guimaraes to a midfield built around Declan Rice.
Lamine Yamal (19)
At 19, the Spanish star is looking to take the next step with Barcelona by conquering Europe, after years of domestic dominance.
Pedri (20)
Since making his Barcelona debut in 2020 and his first senior Spain start a year later, Pedri has spent five years showcasing his gifts on the biggest stages.
Mikel Oyarzabal (21)
Real Sociedad’s captain, Spain’s UEFA EURO 2024 final hero and a five-goal scorer at the World Cup, Luis de la Fuente’s frontman will lead his club into a season in which the UEFA Europa League offers the main attraction.
Pau Cubarsi (22)
There is little more to say about Spain’s other 2007-born world champion. Still only 19, he has already made 128 first-team appearances for Barcelona.
Unai Simon (23)
After conceding just once throughout the World Cup, Unai begins his ninth straight season in Athletic Club’s first-team squad.
Marc Cucurella (24)
Another of the players to change clubs during the World Cup, Cucurella joins Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid to take charge of the left flank after five seasons in the Premier League.
Victor Munoz (25)
After an eye-catching campaign at CA Osasuna, the winger becomes part of Liverpool’s new project under Andoni Iraola.
Borja Iglesias (26)
The oldest member of the squad remains one of the leaders of a Celta de Vigo side returning to European competition.
Luis de la Fuente (coach)
With the World Cup (2026), EURO (2024) and Nations League (2023) now on his senior Spain CV, De la Fuente turns his attention to two major targets: EURO 2028 and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, when Spain will be one of the host nations.
Courtesy: FIFA