The 2025/26 season is shaping up to be another epic one for Barcelona. Last season, the Blaugrana famously claimed a domestic treble, winning La Liga, the Copa Del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, beating archrivals Real Madrid four times along the way.
This season, another league title looks to be in the offing, along with a first Champions League crown since that fearsome Lionel Messi x Luis Suarez x Neymar trident downed Juventus in Berlin 11 years ago.
But when the campaign ultimately draws to a close, all eyes will immediately turn to the shores of North America as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway. And if the pressure on Barcelona’s stars was already monstrous at the Camp Nou, that pales in comparison to what some of them will feel as the weight of a nation’s hopes and dreams falls upon their shoulders.
But which Blaugrana stars will be under the most pressure this summer? Let’s take a look.
Lamine Yamal
When Spain claimed their first and only World Cup crown back in 2010, Barcelona’s stars were front and centre. No fewer than seven of Vicente del Bosque’s starting eleven for that clash against the Netherlands in Johannesburg turned out for the Blaugrana at club level: namely Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, David Villa, Pedro, Carles Puyol, and Gerard Piqué.
Fast forward 16 years, and at least eight Barca stars could be in Luis de la Fuente’s squad this summer.
The pick of the bunch, however, without question, is winger Lamine Yamal. The teenage prodigy has already helped Spain to European glory, starring as La Roja downed England in Berlin to win Euro 2024 two years ago. Now, online betting sites are tipping him to lead his country to global honours.
The latest World Cup odds at Bovada make Spain the 9/2 favourites to leave MetLife Stadium with the trophy on July 19th. Much of that is down to having the biggest blockbuster talent on the planet marauding down the right wing: Yamal.
The 18-year-old has already shown incredible growth in Catalonia this season, helping himself to 19 goals and 15 assists, the best figures of his young career at this stage of a season. If he can carry that form over to the national team this summer, a second World Cup crown could be on its way in the not-so-distant future.
Robert Lewandowski
Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski is the greatest player in the history of Polish football. This summer, he will step onto the World Cup stage likely for the final time at the ripe old age of 37. And just as he has been at all six of the major tournaments he has featured in, Lewa is the man tasked with putting his country on his back.
Lewandowski is already Poland’s top scorer, and he is so by a country mile, netting a whopping 88 goals in 163 appearances throughout a storied career. At the club level, the goal record is even more impressive, amassing a mighty 657 in 926 games. However, this term, he has shown signs of slowing down somewhat.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has restricted his prolific striker to just 18 starts this season, and in those appearances—as well as 14 from the bench—he has still managed to fire 14 goals. For Poland, however, it is a different story. Lewandowski is still the star of the show despite his advancing years.
He started seven of his country’s eight World Cup qualifiers, netting four goals as the Poles finished behind the Netherlands in Group G. But before Lewandowski can venture on to the World Cup stage for the very last time, he must first navigate the treacherous waters of a European playoff. Poland will face off against Albania later this month, and should they come through that, they will then face either Sweden or Kosovo with a place in the World Cup on the line.
Poland are the favourites to progress, and if they are to live up to the billing, it will be their talismanic captain tasked with scoring the goals to get them over the line.
Frenkie de Jong
When Frenkie de Jong is fit, he’s one of the first names on the team sheet. And that’s not just Hansi Flick’s team sheet at the Camp Nou. It’s also the case with Ronald Koeman and his Oranje team sheet as well. The problem is keeping him fit.
FDJ has managed just 16 La Liga starts so far this term. For the Netherlands, it’s a similar story. He missed the entirety of Euro 2024 two years ago with an ankle injury but rebounded by starting all but one of the Oranje’s World Cup qualifiers. He is once again injured now, but his injury is not serious as he is expected to recover in a few weeks, and if he recovers well and regains his level, it would bode well for Koeman and the Dutch heading to North America.
If he stays upright and match-fit, then he is the driving force in the Netherlands’ bid for a maiden World Cup trophy. If he’s not, he will take their title challenge to the treatment room with him.