Because the prepares to start its 2026 FIFA World Cup journey, with set to take the sphere for , the anticipation couldn’t be better.
The hope is for among the Blaugrana gamers to achieve the ultimate and hopefully win the trophy.
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In spite of everything, stays the final Barcelona participant not solely to look in a World Cup remaining but additionally to win it whereas representing the membership.
Eight years after ’s triumph in Russia, no energetic Barça participant has managed to copy that achievement.
The French defender was one of many standout performers of Didier Deschamps’ World Cup-winning aspect.
Umtiti gained the World Cup with France in 2018. (Picture by Matthias Hangst/Getty Pictures)
Whereas was additionally a part of the France squad, it was Umtiti who performed a decisive function all through the event and featured within the remaining towards .
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His defining second got here within the semi-final towards , the place his solitary aim despatched France into the ultimate and in the end paved the way in which for his or her second World Cup title.
A career-defining sacrifice
For Barcelona, Umtiti’s World Cup success stays one of the vital bittersweet tales in latest historical past.
On the time, he was among the many greatest defenders in Europe and a cornerstone of the Catalans’ backline.
Nonetheless, he pushed by way of critical knee issues with out going below the knife to function on the World Cup, and that call ended up defining his profession.
It introduced him soccer’s largest trophy, nevertheless it additionally meant that the event in Russia was the height of his profession and he by no means got here near that degree once more.
It was the spotlight of Umtiti’s profession. (Picture by Matthias Hangst/Getty Pictures)
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Umtiti’s time at Barcelona petered out with out many highlights, and chronic knee points noticed him retire from the sport whereas nonetheless in his early 30s.
Can a present Barcelona star finish the wait?
Barcelona’s more moderen World Cup finalists have come shut, however none have achieved what Umtiti managed.
reached the ultimate in 2014 alongside however fell brief towards .
By the point lifted the trophy in 2022, Messi was now not a Barcelona participant, though it felt like an ethical victory for the Catalan membership.
With 16 Barcelona representatives concerned within the 2026 World Cup, the membership now have one other alternative so as to add a brand new chapter to their World Cup historical past.
It stays to be seen whether or not somebody displaces Umtiti from the throne on July 20 or if the French defender holds this honour not less than till 2030.