Camavinga at a World Cup crossroads: will a left-back change unlock France’s 2026 dream?

Camavinga at a World Cup crossroads

Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid’s rising star, stands at a decisive crossroads in his international career. The left-back position — a role he doesn’t love — could become the lifeline to keep him in France’s World Cup 2026 plans, amid fierce midfield competition.

According to AS in Spain, Camavinga, who first broke through with Rennes at age 16, drew eyes with a dazzling display against Paris Saint-Germain, prompting French media to hail him as the natural heir to Pogba and Kanté.

Despite the numerous trophies since moving to Real Madrid in 2021, he has yet to establish himself as a regular starter for either the club or the France national team.

By 2025 he remains in search of a fixed place in the France squad, having accumulated 27 international caps in a somewhat stop-and-start fashion.

During the October international window, the French star played late minutes against Azerbaijan as a midfielder, but debates in France have intensified over whether that position could grant him a World Cup berth.

Deschamps and his staff are weighing another option: deploying Camavinga as a left-back, leveraging his tactical flexibility, especially since Theo Hernandez and Lucas Digne have not offered full guarantees in that role.

Although Camavinga has repeatedly stated he dislikes defensive duties, his multi-role versatility could be his trump card in a tournament where every detail counts.

A recurring experiment

This would not be a new test for him; Ancelotti has used him as a left-back for Madrid on several occasions, and Deschamps used him in that role during the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar against Argentina, where he helped shift the tempo of the game.

Yet he has not yet cemented a midfield position, whether at Madrid or within the French training camp, largely due to recurring injuries that have slowed his development.

In recent months, Camavinga has logged only brief minutes, returning on September 20 against Espanyol after a stretch of thigh and ankle injuries that affected his early-season rhythm.

Nevertheless, Deschamps has once again called him up during the current international window to cover several midfield absences. The coach could give him another chance on Monday against Iceland in a decisive test that may decide his fate: remain a talented midfielder seeking consistency, or re-open the World Cup door by anchoring left-back for the Denins.

From African refugee to football icon

In an inspiring story of persistence and excellence, Camavinga is viewed as one of football’s brightest rising stars. Born on November 10, 2002 in Cabinda, Angola, to parents from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he grew up in France after his family fled the conflict. From an early age, his passion for football was evident, starting at the Drabov Fouger academy before moving to Rennes in 2013.

At just 16, Camavinga made his first-team debut for Rennes in Ligue 1, becoming the club’s youngest ever player. He quickly established himself as a midfield talent with elite technical and physical attributes, excelling at ball-winning, precise passing, and vision on the pitch.

In the summer of 2021, Camavinga took a giant step by joining Real Madrid for €31 million. Despite his youth, he adapted rapidly to the “Madrid” environment, helping the club win multiple trophies, notably the Champions League and La Liga in 2021–22 and 2023–24, and he demonstrated positional flexibility by filling in at left-back when needed, earning greater trust from Carlo Ancelotti.

Internationally, Camavinga chose to represent France despite his African roots, debuting for the “Les Bleus” in 2020 and becoming one of the youngest players to wear the French jersey. He even scored a superb goal on his first start, cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising talents.

Today, Camavinga is widely viewed as a cornerstone of France and Real Madrid’s future, thanks to his early maturity, humility, and fighting spirit. Still in his early 20s, his ceiling appears limitless, with expectations that he could become one of the world’s best midfielders in the coming years.

Two punchlines just to brighten the tunnel: 1) If Camavinga masters left-back, not even the offside rule will know what to do with him. 2) If versatility pays, Camavinga is cashing in World Cup futures — one position, many headlines, zero complaints.