From a Brutal Clasico to Spain’s Next Big Thing: Victor Muñoz’s World Cup Quest
30 March 2026
Rise of a Spanish Star
Victor Muñoz is no longer just a rising talent in La Liga; he has become one of the standout new faces in the Spain national team.
His bow for La Roja was flawless: within ten minutes of entering the pitch he opened his scoring account, aided by a stunning heel pass from Ferran Torres, sending Spain to a convincing 3-0 victory over Serbia.
The spotlight now shifts to Cornellà, where the young winger is awaited again this Tuesday against Egypt, in a real test before the World Cup.
With six goals and five assists this season for Osasuna, Muñoz has forced his way into Luis de la Fuente's plans, replacing the injured Nico Williams. All signs point to him being close to the World Cup squad.
A Dream Turned Nightmare
Despite this moment of pride, Muñoz's path hasn't unfolded without pain. He endured a tough experience in his first-team debut for Real Madrid in the clásico against Barcelona.
Madrid trailed 4-3 at Montjuïc when he came on in the 88th minute for Vinícius Júnior, and he squandered a golden opportunity to level after a pass from Kylian Mbappé, firing wide in a one-on-one with Wojciech Szczęsny.
After the match, the young star cried on the pitch as some Madrid fans directed abuse, a harsh moment for a player just starting his career.
Back with the national team, Muñoz spoke about the coach's support, noting that Luis de la Fuente gave him confidence and asked him to play his own way.
He also spoke fondly of reuniting with familiar faces like Fermin from La Masia, even if he hasn't yet run into him again, and looked ahead to Egypt as a serious audition for the final squad.
And if he maintains this level, being left out would be almost unthinkable.
Punchline 1: At this rate, the ball may file for citizenship and demand a passport to the net.
Punchline 2: They say timing is everything in comedy and football—Muñoz just found his punchline in the 88th minute of a club clásico, so the World Cup could be next in line for a goal-filled set.
