Dani Olmo began his 2026 World Cup journey from the bench in the opening match against Cape Verde, but quickly became a cornerstone in Luis de la Fuente's plans, and he is now a candidate to lead Spain's attack in the semi-final against France on Tuesday.

Olmo is distinguished by his ability to occupy multiple positions in the forward line, giving coach de la Fuente flexible tactical options.

Thanks to Spain's possession-based style, the team's need for Olmo appears essential, as he excels at linking midfielders and attackers.

De la Fuente said at the start of the tournament: 'He is a master at playing between the lines.'

The 28-year-old Barcelona star is currently enjoying his best period. Although his playmaking talent is undisputed, injuries have hindered his consistency, which has likely cost him a greater international presence.

Olmo said before the match against Belgium: 'My life and career have been like this, I always have to prove who I am, but that's not a problem, it's a challenge I set for myself, to prove it again, as I always have,' adding that, unlike his teammates, he had to emigrate outside Spain as a teenager to build his football future.

Olmo... trained at La Masia, Barcelona's youth academy, but in 2014, at the age of 16, he decided to leave for a different experience (Reuters)

Emigration for success

He trained at La Masia, Barcelona's youth academy, but in 2014, at age 16, he decided to leave the club due to the difficulty of joining the first team, which at the time included players like Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

But instead of moving to another big team on the continent, he and his family chose to go to Dinamo Zagreb, a club with a good reputation for developing young talents (e.g., Luka Modric graduated from there), but far from the spotlight of major leagues.

Olmo previously said: 'In Croatia the culture was different, and I learned a lot physically.'

He added: 'In Spain the focus was more on the ball, especially at Barcelona (...) but Croatia benefited me a lot. I was 16 years old, and I was training with national team players who had played in the World Cup. It was a big step for me. It made me develop physically and mentally because the game was faster.'

In Zagreb his name began to stand out, before he moved to Leipzig where he honed his talent in the Bundesliga, until he returned to Barcelona exactly two years ago.

He is considered a key element in German coach Hansi Flick's team thanks to his ability to play between the lines and create space for his teammates, as well as his goal contributions: 20 goals and 17 assists in 88 matches for the Catalan club.

Olmo returned to Barcelona after establishing himself as a prominent star (AFP)

With de la Fuente in youth categories

De la Fuente did not need to see him at Barcelona to call him up to the national team. As is the case with a number of 2026 World Cup players (Unai Simon, Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal and Fabian Ruiz), Olmo was crowned European Under-19 champion in 2019 under his leadership.

Two years later he called him up again for the Tokyo Olympics, where Spain won the silver medal, although he had already made his senior international debut and scored a goal just 3 minutes after coming on in the European Championship qualifier against Malta in 2019.

He participated in the European Championship in summer 2021 and the World Cup in Qatar 2022, but his most notable achievements with 'La Roja' came with de la Fuente: he won the UEFA Nations League in 2023, was runner-up in 2025, also won the European Championship in 2024, and now he reaches the semi-final of the North American World Cup.

De la Fuente values in Olmo his dynamics in attacking play, his ability to make a difference, and his effort in pressing.

The number 10 of the Red team said before the quarter-final against Belgium: 'We are a team that attacks together and defends together. The coach says the first one to defend is the striker, and the rest follow him.'

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Olmo's exceptional career, which began at La Masia and then took a unique experience at Dinamo Zagreb, has made him a complete player. Spaniards hope he continues his success in the semi-final, especially as the team relies on his ability to break through France's solid defense. If Olmo delivers his usual level, he could be the key to reaching the final.