Avai · Midfielder · #0 · Brazil · 34 yrs
The 2026 World Cup will be missing several of global soccer's biggest stars, enough to construct an incredibly elite Absent XI watching from home. The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be an unprecedented, historic spectacle. For the first time, 48 teams will compete across three host nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—chasing the ultimate glory in soccer history. The tournament in North America is ready to welcome icons of the game like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lamine Yamal, and Kylian Mbappe. Yet, a striking list of world-class talent will be noticeably missing from the pitch this summer. For some, an agonizingly timed injury shattered their World Cup dreams, as seen with Brazil’s Eder Militao and Rodrygo, or Germany’s Serge Gnabry. For others, the omission comes down to strict, high-stakes managerial decisions. Powerhouse nations boast such intense roster competition that managers have ruthlessly left behind star names, highlighted by Thomas Tuchel’s shocking decisions to omit Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold from England’s final 26-man squad. Trent Alexander-Arnold of England. (Getty Images) The 2026 World Cup Absent XI Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy): Despite racking up 64 caps and an Euros trophy for his country, the Manchester City star will incredibly miss his third consecutive World Cup after Italy once again failed to qualify. Defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold (England): In one of the most controversial roster cuts of the year, England boss Thomas Tuchel opted to leave the elite playmaker out of his tactical plans for North America.Harry Maguire (England): Another high-profile casualty of Tuchel’s defensive overhaul for the Three Lions.Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands): The Manchester United center-back was forced to accept defeat and miss the tournament entirely after undergoing corrective back surgery in mid-May.Marcos Acuña (Argentina): A 2022 World Cup winner who will not be defending the crown, having been entirely excluded from Lionel Scaloni’s highly competitive squad. Midfielders Sandro Tonali (Italy): Much like his compatriot Donnarumma, the dynamic Newcastle midfielder is trapped on the outside looking in due to Italy’s qualification failure.Eduardo Camavinga (France): In a testament to France’s terrifying midfield depth, the Real Madrid star was left out of Didier Deschamps’ final World Cup squad selection.Cole Palmer (England): Perhaps the most shocking tactical omission in the World Cup. Despite a sensational club season, Palmer was left off England’s flight to the United States by Tuchel. Forwards Rodrygo (Brazil): The Seleção frontline takes a massive hit as the Real Madrid winger was officially ruled out due to a late physical injury.Robert Lewandowski (Poland): The legendary striker misses out on one final World Cup run after Poland suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Sweden in the UEFA playoff final.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia): The PSG star won’t bring his signature flair to North America, as Georgia was unable to navigate the brutal European qualifying cycles.
While the upcoming presidential elections have temporarily stalled momentum, Jose Mourinho has reportedly outlined six transfer demands to finalize his return to Real Madrid. Jose Mourinho is widely reported to be the frontrunner to return to Real Madrid as Florentino Perez’s preferred choice to lead the club out of its end-of-season crisis. While his formal appointment has been put on hold by the announcement of presidential elections, reports have emerged that the Portuguese manager has already outlined six transfer demands for his first season back at the Bernabeu. The momentum behind Mourinho’s appointment hit a pause when Perez called for elections, with candidate Enrique Riquelme publicly committing to sign a Spanish player from the World Cup squad if elected. While that political dimension has introduced some uncertainty into the process, Mourinho is reportedly already analyzing the squad and identifying the areas that need reinforcing. According to Diario AS, Mourinho’s assessment of the current Real Madrid setup has led him to push for one or two center backs, one or two fullbacks, a defensive midfielder and a creative midfielder, with the emphasis placed on roles rather than specific names. While some positions are considered higher priority than others, these six areas are viewed as the structural foundation of the project Mourinho wants to build in Madrid. The Spanish outlet reports that the defensive midfielder and the creative midfielder are the two positions Mourinho considers most urgent. In the holding midfield role, Aurelien Tchouameni remains the only natural option in the squad, meaning a new signing would offer both depth and direct competition for the position. Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric of Real Madrid. The creative midfielder is arguably the bigger concern. Real Madrid have lacked that profile since the departure of Toni Kroos and now the exit of Luka Modric, leaving a void that has never been properly filled. AS reports that Mourinho is eager to bring in a player of the mold of Fredrik Aursnes, whom he managed at Benfica. On the defensive side, the departures of David Alaba and Dani Carvajal have created openings at center back and right back, while the futures of Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga and Fran García remain unresolved. Should any or all of them leave, the list of positions requiring reinforcement would expand further across a squad Mourinho believes needs rebuilding in every line except goal and attack. Mourinho would force Real Madrid to spend €15 million before a single player is signed With the 2025-26 Portuguese season already concluded, Mourinho is expected to depart Benfica, though his contract running through June 2027 remains a complicating factor. Real Madrid will need to resolve that situation before any coaching appointment can be formalized, and the cost of doing so has already increased significantly. As reported by Diario AS, Mourinho’s release clause at Benfica was set at seven million euros but expired on May 26. With the process having stalled, the applicable compensation has now risen to 15 million euros, equivalent to the manager’s gross salary at Benfica, though that figure could be subject to negotiation in direct talks between the two clubs.
Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has said that Eduardo Camavinga wants to stay at Real Madrid, despite interest from Manchester United. Romano said about Camavinga on his YouTube channel: “There is no doubt that there are several clubs interested in Camavinga, guys, but I can tell you that, at the moment, Man Utd have not […] The post Eduardo Camavinga wants to stay at Real Madrid appeared first on Soccer News.
José Mourinho has reportedly reached an agreement to return to Real Madrid CF, aiming to lead a major squad rebuild. As part of this process, the Portuguese manager has supposedly identified three key areas that need reinforcement. Following the successful era of Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid CF have struggled to maintain their dominance. Because of this, they are set for the beginning of a new cycle, planning major changes throughout the squad. Alongside this, José Mourinho has supposedly agreed to return to the club in an attempt to rebuild the sporting project. In addition, he is reportedly aiming to strengthen the squad in three key positions. According to Sky Sports, via X, formerly Twitter, José Mourinho has agreed to return to Real Madrid CF, 13 years after his departure from the club. With a two-year contract, he will reportedly be tasked with rebuilding the sporting project after the disappointing spells of Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa. In addition, Mourinho is supposedly set to receive greater authority over squad decisions, alongside stronger backing from the front office regarding his choices. With his return to Real Madrid CF, Mourinho has already identified the key positions he wants reinforced during the 2026 summer transfer window. As per Sacha Tavolieri, transfer expert, via X, the Portuguese manager has decided to prioritize the signing of a right back, a left back, and a center back as his first major steps toward improving the squad’s competitiveness ahead of the 2026-27 season. Alongside these defensive reinforcements, José Mourinho is reportedly aiming to strengthen the midfield with a world-class signing: Rodri from Manchester City FC. According to Football Insider, the Portuguese manager considers him the ideal player to rebuild the team around. With his contract running until 2027, the 29-year-old star could reportedly be available for around €60 million or less next summer, a fee Los Blancos may be willing to pay. Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Benfica, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League. Dani Carvajal heads Real Madrid departures for the 2026-27 season Real Madrid CF appear ready to make radical changes to their squad in an effort to restore the team’s competitiveness. To achieve this, Los Blancos not only need reinforcements in several areas of the pitch, but could also require numerous player departures. With only one match remaining before the end of the season, Dani Carvajal has officially announced his departure from the club at the end of the campaign, bringing an end to a historic spell. “Real Madrid C.F. and our captain Dani Carvajal have agreed to bring an end to a wonderful chapter as a player of our club at the conclusion of the current season. Real Madrid wishes to express its gratitude and affection to one of the greatest legends of our club... Carvajal is one of the five players in soccer history to have won 6 European Cups and has been part of a team that has experienced one of the brightest periods in our history,” revealed Real Madrid via Instagram. Alongside Dani Carvajal, both David Alaba and Dani Ceballos also appear set to leave the club, having failed to fully establish as starters in recent seasons. In addition, several players could see their futures decided during preseason, including Raúl Asencio, Franco Mastantuono, Eduardo Camavinga, and Fran García. With multiple areas of the squad still needing reinforcement, Los Blancos may need to oversee even more departures in the coming months.
Eduardo Camavinga added another important milestone to his Real Madrid career after helping the team secure a 1-0 victory away to Sevilla, reaching his 100th La Liga victory as a Real Madrid player.Ca...
In a recent report, Fichajes claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are showing interest in Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga. It has been mentioned that Spurs are ready to move in for the French talen...
Didier Deschamps has explained why Eduardo Camavinga was left out of France’s final squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, capping off what has been an extremely frustrating season for the Real Madr...
Coach Didier Deschamps released the France squad list for the 2026 World Cup headlined by stars Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, with Eduardo Camavinga being the most notable absence. The 2026 World Cup field is officially taking shape, with France becoming the first major powerhouse to unveil its roster for the upcoming tournament. While superstars Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele headline the star-studded list, Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga provided the shock of the day after being left out of the squad entirely. In a high-production reveal video, head coach Didier Deschamps named the 26 players tasked with conquering North America this summer. Les Bleus find themselves in Group I, widely considered one of the tournament’s “Groups of Death,” where they will battle Sadio Mane’s Senegal, Iraq, and Erling Haaland’s Norway. France will lean heavily on 2024-25 Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe and 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele to spearhead the hunt for a third star. Along with Lucas Hernandez, this duo will be the only players on the roster to feature in three consecutive World Cups, a run that includes the 2018 title in Russia and the 2022 final in Qatar. The omission of Eduardo Camavinga stands as the most glaring storyline of the selection process. “I imagine his disappointment. He is coming off a difficult season where he played less and dealt with injuries. I have choices to make, a squad structure (to maintain),” commented Didier Deschamps on TF1. 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒄𝒖𝒏 𝒂 𝒖𝒏 𝒓𝒐̂𝒍𝒆 𝒂̀ 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒆𝒓 🇫🇷🌎Voici nos 26 Bleus qui représenteront la France à la 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐝𝐮 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 ! 🔥#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/CqKUzJpSK0— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) May 14, 2026 In a move that caught many by surprise, RC Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser earned a spot on the final 26-man roster. The 21-year-old’s inclusion marks his first-ever call-up by Deschamps, as he beat out the likes of PSG’s Lucas Chevalier and West Ham’s Alphonse Areola, both of whom struggled for consistent minutes this season. France’s full 2026 World Cup roster Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (RC Lens), Brice Samba (Stade Rennes).Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Vila), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (FC Barcelona), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), Wiliam Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).Midfielders : N’Golo Kante (Fenerbahce), Manu Kone (AS Rome), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG).Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (AS Monaco), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Desire Doue (PSG), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan). More than half of the 2022 squad will miss the 2026 trip France entered the 2022 World Cup aiming to become the first repeat champions since Brazil in 1962, but those dreams were dashed by Lionel Messi’s Argentina in an epic final. Since that heartbreak, Deschamps has overseen a massive rebuilding process for what is expected to be his final World Cup on the French touchline. The turnover is staggering; of the 26 players who traveled to Qatar four years ago, 14 will not be joining the team in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Most notably, the entire 2022 goalkeeping core of Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, and Alphonse Areola has been completely phased out in favor of new blood. The following 14 players from the 2022 squad were excluded due to international retirement or tactical decisions: Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola, Hugo Lloris, and Steve Mandanda.Defenders: Axel Disasi, Benjamin Pavard, and Raphael Varane.Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, Youssouf Fofana, Matteo Guendouzi, Jordan Veretout.Forwards: Kingsley Coman, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, and Randal Kolo Muani.
