Real Madrid have endured an embarrassing 2025/26 season, and many key players have tumbled their own stocks by performing horribly on the pitch and then blaming the managers for their own failings instead of actually stepping up to the standard of a great club like Real Madrid.
Two of those players have already been punished for their inadequacies by the Spanish national team. Right back Dani Carvajal took it for granted that he would be in the 2026 World Cup squad, and when it became obvious that his play no longer merited that inclusion, the hero of Spain and Real Madrid as recently as 2024 lashed out and (allegedly) became a mole and a negative example in the locker room.
He and his padawan Alvaro Carreras are both not even officially in the preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup, meaning that they have a 0.00001% chance of making it to the tournament in the Americas this year. Carreras ended up being just as big of a disappointment as Carvajal, behaving just as childishly to Alvaro Arbeloa behind the scenes while failing to take his punishment like a man. And now, Spain and Luis de la Fuente have sidelined him for Fran Garcia, just as Arbeloa did.
Fran Garcia keep on winning
Meanwhile, two Real Madrid players who put their heads down, did what was asked by the manager, and played well whenever they were called upon off the bench are in the Spanish national team prelim squad for the 2026 World Cup with what may well be a real 50/50 shot at making it to the most prestigious tournament in world football for the reigning European champions.
One of those is, yes, Fran, who has become the starter at Real Madrid above Alvaro Carreras. He may not have the talent of Carreras, but he is harder worker and does what the team asks. And he was one of the few good players in the 2-0 loss to Barcelona, cleaning up several messes and probably saving a few goals in the process. It makes 100 percent sense for Spain to want him over Carreras, because effort and teamwork get you far at World Cups - not selfishness.
The other is young striker Gonzalo Garcia. He barely gets to play for Real Madrid because of the monopoly Kylian Mbappe, who isn't even a real 9, has on the position under Florentino Perez's rule. But Garcia has been a scorer whenever on the pitch and has great intelligence off the ball, playing the position like a 9 should. He has athletic limitations, but as the Spanish youth national team can attest, that has not stopped him from finding the back of the net and being an effective player. He could be an X-Factor if he makes Spain's final squad.
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