As the FC Barcelona contingent prepares to begin its 2026 FIFA World Cup journey, with Raphinha set to take the field for Brazil, the anticipation could not be greater.
The hope is for some of the Blaugrana players to reach the final and hopefully win the trophy.
After all, Samuel Umtiti remains the last Barcelona player not only to appear in a World Cup final but also to win it while representing the club.
Eight years after France’s triumph in Russia, no active Barça player has managed to replicate that achievement.
The French defender was one of the standout performers of Didier Deschamps’ World Cup-winning side.
Umtiti won the World Cup with France in 2018. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
While Ousmane Dembele was also part of the France squad, it was Umtiti who played a decisive role throughout the tournament and featured in the final against Croatia.
His defining moment came in the semi-final against Belgium, where his solitary goal sent France into the final and ultimately paved the way for their second World Cup title.
A career-defining sacrifice
For Barcelona, Umtiti’s World Cup success remains one of the most bittersweet stories in recent history.
At the time, he was among the best defenders in Europe and a cornerstone of the Catalans’ backline.
However, he pushed through serious knee problems without going under the knife to feature at the World Cup, and that decision ended up defining his career.
It brought him football’s biggest trophy, but it also meant that the tournament in Russia was the peak of his career and he never came close to that level again.
It was the highlight of Umtiti’s career. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Umtiti’s time at Barcelona petered out without many highlights, and persistent knee issues saw him retire from the game while still in his early 30s.
Can a current Barcelona star end the wait?
Barcelona’s more recent World Cup finalists have come close, but none have achieved what Umtiti managed.
Lionel Messi reached the final in 2014 alongside Javier Mascherano but fell short against Germany.
By the time Argentina lifted the trophy in 2022, Messi was no longer a Barcelona player, although it felt like a moral victory for the Catalan club.
With 16 Barcelona representatives involved in the 2026 World Cup, the club now have another opportunity to add a new chapter to their World Cup history.
It remains to be seen whether someone displaces Umtiti from the throne on July 20 or if the French defender holds this honour at least until 2030.
