Alisson Becker skipped Liverpool matches to stay fit for 2026 World Cup
Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker confirmed that he deliberately missed a number of Liverpool fixtures during the 2025‑26 season to ensure he would be at full fitness for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking to Estadão, he said, “I’m 100 %. Missing games for Liverpool was part of the plan to make sure I was ready for the World Cup.”
Alisson played 35 matches for Liverpool, keeping 13 clean sheets, but sat out ten of the final twelve league games after a thigh injury, allowing backup Giorgi Mamardashvili to start. His decision has drawn criticism but he maintains it was a personal strategy aimed at helping Brazil, who open their Group C campaign against Morocco on 13 June 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Eight Liverpool players have been selected for the tournament, including Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo, while no English‑based player made England’s squad for the first time since 1986. A recent viral clip of Alisson’s late‑match save sparked interest on social media, though analysts note that such moments have not translated into measurable crypto‑market activity.
Alisson’s statements underscore the balance elite players must strike between club commitments and national team ambitions as the World Cup approaches.