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For a long time, the spine of Spain's national team relied upon two men named Sergio.
Sergio Ramos and Sergio Busquets, one apiece from Real Madrid and Barcelona, were crucial to many of the Spanish successes in the world of international football.
Neither will be playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though.
Their generation has mostly passed Spain's roster by. Along with a guy like Jordi Alba, and the long-retired Andres Iniesta and Xavi, these players have now handed things off to the next generation.
MORE: Why Spain has no Real Madrid players in the squad
Why isn't Sergio Ramos playing at the World Cup?
Ramos isn't playing because he retired from international play in February 2023.
Players often retire internationally before retiring from the club level, and that's what Ramos did.
Ramos continues to play club football, most recently for Monterrey in Mexico.
He was the most-capped player in Spain's history, but he won't be adding to that mark.
MORE: Cyle Larin proves all the cliches true for Canada
Why isn't Sergio Busquets playing at the World Cup?
Busquets isn't just retired from Spain -- he's retired from his football career in general.
After Inter Miami won MLS Cup last season, Busquets and Jordi Alba both retired.
The metronomic midfielder was so key to Spain's possession-based game, but he has now moved on to the next chapter of his life.
More FIFA World Cup news:
- Japan fans clean up the stadium after World Cup games
- Lamine Yamal hanging out at a Walmart
- Ref cams are making quite the fashion statement
- Lawrence, Kansas has fallen in love with the Algerian national team
- Germany fan Freddy is going viral for his journey through the American South
Billy Heyen
Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who spent his senior year following Jim Boeheim's basketball team around the country. His reporting work has also included extensive high school sports coverage at the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Adventures in sports writing have also led to in-person coverage of the Buffalo Sabres, Cleveland Guardians, U.S. men's national soccer team and a variety of minor league baseball stories. When people ask if he's seen a movie, the answer is usually "No, I was probably watching sports." Even away from sports, his main hobby is running (much slower than any athlete in these pages).
Source: Sporting News
