Real Madrid players excluded from 2026 World Cup as other young talents rise

Dean Huijsen and Franco Mastantuono, both on the books of Real Madrid, were left out of the squads for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Huijsen missed the Spanish list due to limited playing time and competition in defence, while Mastantuono was omitted by Argentina after a season with only 1,484 minutes in 35 appearances. The Argentine midfielder Nico Paz, who left Real Madrid for Como, was nevertheless called up by Argentina and could see a future return to the Spanish club if Madrid activates its buy‑back clause.

A separate analysis highlights three emerging prospects who could feature at the tournament: Bosnian defender Muharemović, who shines for Sassuolo in Serie A; Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, a key player for Lille; and Brazilian winger Rayan, who has impressed at Bournemouth after moving from Vasco da Gama. These players are being touted as potential stars for their national teams at the upcoming World Cup.