Fermin Lopez will miss the upcoming World Cup after suffering a broken bone in his foot, delivering a cruel blow to the Barcelona midfielder's international ambitions. The 21-year-old posted an emotional message acknowledging the setback while committing to support Spain from afar.

Lopez enjoyed a breakthrough season with Barcelona, contributing 13 goals and 17 assists across 48 appearances despite battling groin injuries twice. His performances earned him seven international caps and a likely spot in Spain's World Cup squad, which will be officially announced Monday.

Spain enter the tournament in Group H alongside Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, opening against Cape Verde on June 15. Lopez's absence removes a creative option from manager Luis de la Fuente's midfield rotation at a critical time.

The injury represents another hurdle in Lopez's young career, though his proven resilience suggests he'll return stronger. For Spain, losing a player of his caliber diminishes squad depth heading into the summer showcase.