Marcelo Bielsa has named his squad for the 2026 World Cup, and one notable omission has left many Barcelona supporters surprised.
While Uruguay captain Ronald Araújo was included in the travelling party, there was no place for former Barcelona star Luis Suárez. Bielsa did not provide a public explanation for the decision, instead placing his faith in a forward line led by Darwin Núñez, Rodrigo Aguirre and Federico Viñas as Uruguay chase World Cup glory.
Suárez stepped away from international football in September 2024 as Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer, having scored 69 goals in 143 appearances for La Celeste. Despite being absent from the national team setup for almost two years, the veteran striker recently stated that he would never turn down a call-up if his country needed him.
That sentiment had fuelled hopes among supporters that the 39-year-old could be handed one final World Cup appearance. For many fans, memories of his exploits on football's biggest stage made the prospect of a farewell tournament too tempting to ignore.
The veteran striker has scored six goals for Inter Miami this season, continuing to showcase his predatory instincts after joining former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in Florida. The move had reunited several key figures from Barcelona's golden era following Suárez's return from South American football.
For Barcelona supporters, Suárez remains one of the finest strikers in the club's history. During his six seasons at Camp Nou, the Uruguayan scored 198 goals in 284 appearances, forming part of the iconic MSN attacking trio.
Araujo will feature at the World Cup
As confirmed in the full list of World Cup players, Barcelona captain Ronald Araújo will be heading to the World Cup and is expected to play a pivotal role in Marcelo Bielsa's plans. The defender returns refreshed after stepping away from football earlier this year to focus on his mental wellbeing, and now appears ready to lead both on and off the pitch.
Fully fit once again, Araújo will be aiming to guide La Celeste through Group H, where Uruguay face Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and Spain. The clash with Spain could prove particularly intriguing, with the centre-back set to come up against several of his Barcelona teammates on the international stage.
While many Barcelona supporters will be disappointed not to see club legend Luis Suárez given one final World Cup opportunity, there is at least consolation in seeing Araújo represent the Blaugrana in the tournament.
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