Joselu

World Cup 2026 Analysis

Joselu: A Veteran Striker's 2026 World Cup Journey Ends

José Luis Mato Sanmartín, widely known as Joselu, is a Spanish professional footballer who, at 36 years old (born March 27, 1990), finds his distinguished international career not extending to the FIFA World Cup 2026. Despite a notable club season and a commendable late-career surge with the national team, Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente opted for a younger attacking lineup for the upcoming tournament.

Current Form & Season Performance (2025/2026)

Joselu has had a productive 2025/2026 season with Qatari Stars League club Al-Gharafa, where he plays as a striker. In the current season, he has recorded 6 goals and 2 assists in 1,381 minutes across 16 league matches, maintaining an average FotMob rating of 7.13. His contributions helped Al-Gharafa secure a third-place finish in the Qatar Stars League in the 2024/2025 season, scoring 15 goals in 30 matches, and also winning the 2025 Emir Cup. In the current 2025/2026 season, he has participated in the Amir of Qatar Cup, where Al-Gharafa won the trophy.

Recent match highlights include a strong performance on February 26, 2026, where he scored 1 goal and provided 1 assist in a 3-2 home win against Al-Rayyan, earning an 8.8 FotMob rating. He also contributed a goal and an assist in a 2-1 away win against Al-Arabi on January 15, 2026. While his club has experienced some mixed results in recent months, Joselu has consistently been a presence when on the field.

World Cup 2026 Prospects

Unfortunately for Joselu, his impressive club form and recent history with the Spanish national team will not culminate in an appearance at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Spain's head coach, Luis de la Fuente, announced his 26-man squad on May 25, 2026, and Joselu was not included in the final selection. This decision marks a significant shift, as only three players from Real Madrid's Euro 2024 roster (Carvajal, Joselu, and Nacho Fernández) were expected to be in contention, but ultimately, no Real Madrid players (and by extension, former Real Madrid loan players like Joselu who moved to Al-Gharafa) made the final cut for the 2026 World Cup.

Joselu, who will be 36 years old during the tournament, had previously expressed a strong desire to continue playing for the national team, acknowledging that it would be more challenging due to his league of play but maintaining that goals scored in Qatar are as valuable as those in Europe. His last call-up to the national team was in March 2024. Despite his late-career resurgence and critical goals for Spain, the national team is looking towards a blend of experienced players and exciting young talents, with a focus on players primarily from European top leagues.

Playing Style & Tactical Analysis

Joselu is renowned as an old-fashioned target man, characterized by his significant physical presence (1.91m tall, 86kg) and aerial ability. His strengths lie in his ability to hold up the ball, link play with midfielders, and bring others into attacking positions. He is adept at playing with his back to goal and possesses good first touch and passing ability for a player of his stature. While not always the most prolific goalscorer throughout his career, he has shown an improved clinical edge in recent seasons, particularly during his loan spell at Real Madrid and now with Al-Gharafa.

His tactical role often involves occupying central defenders, creating space for faster, more agile forwards or attacking midfielders. He is also noted for his work rate, decent pace, and strength. Defensively, he contributes significantly in aerial duels and is an intelligent presser. However, a historical weakness has been his finishing accuracy, as he often prioritizes placing shots, which can sometimes lead to them being easily saved or going wide. While his heading ability is strong, directing those headers effectively towards goal has also been an area for improvement.

Key Stats & Milestones

• Age: 36 (Born March 27, 1990)
• Current Club: Al-Gharafa (Qatar Stars League)
• International Caps for Spain: 17
• International Goals for Spain: 6
• Made his Spain debut at 32 years old in March 2023, scoring twice in two minutes against Norway.
• Scored the winner for Spain in the 2023 Nations League semi-finals against Italy.
• Was part of the Spain squad that won the 2023 UEFA Nations League and UEFA Euro 2024.
• Club Stats (2025/2026 Season, Al-Gharafa):
• Goals: 6 (Qatar Stars League)
• Assists: 2 (Qatar Stars League)
• Minutes Played: 1,381 (Qatar Stars League)
• Matches Played: 16 (Qatar Stars League)
• Career Milestones:
• Won the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid during his loan spell in 2023-2024, scoring 18 goals in 49 appearances, including a crucial brace in the Champions League semi-final.
• Won the Amir of Qatar Cup with Al-Gharafa in 2025 and 2026.

Expert Predictions

Expert predictions and the official squad announcement confirm that Joselu will not be participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While Spain is considered one of the favorites to win the tournament, with a Goldman Sachs model giving them a 26% chance, the national team under Luis de la Fuente is emphasizing a dynamic and youthful squad. The exclusion of Joselu, despite his veteran status and prior contributions to Spain's Euro 2024 victory and Nations League triumph, suggests a strategic decision to prioritize younger, emerging talents in the attacking department. Joselu himself acknowledged the difficulty of selection due to playing in the Qatari league. This decision aligns with a broader trend of Spain moving away from solely relying on experienced players, opting for a blend that can adapt to a high-intensity playing style.