Fermin Lopez is facing a devastating end to the season after Barcelona confirmed the midfielder will need surgery on a fractured metatarsal.
The 23-year-old was forced off during Barcelona’s 3-1 La Liga win over Real Betis after suffering an injury to his right foot. He was replaced at half-time at the Spotify Camp Nou, with initial hope that the change may have been precautionary.
However, medical tests have now confirmed a serious setback for both Barcelona and Spain.
Barcelona released a statement on Monday confirming the injury and the need for surgery.
“The first team player Fermin Lopez suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot in the game against Betis. The player will undergo surgery,” the club said.
The timing could hardly be worse for Fermin, who had been pushing strongly for a place in Spain’s 2026 World Cup squad. Luis de la Fuente is expected to name his final selection next Monday, but the midfielder’s injury now leaves his hopes hanging by a thread.
Barcelona have not yet confirmed how long Fermin will be sidelined, but a fractured fifth metatarsal often requires several weeks of recovery. With Spain due to begin their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15, the midfielder faces a major battle to be fit in time.
Fermin had become an increasingly important figure for club and country, making the injury even more painful at such a decisive stage of the season. His energy, movement and ability to arrive in dangerous areas had made him a strong candidate for De la Fuente’s squad.
The setback also rules him out of Barcelona’s final La Liga match of the season against Valencia next weekend.
For Fermin, the focus now shifts to surgery and recovery. For Spain, the injury creates an unexpected selection problem just days before the World Cup squad is confirmed.
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