Dani Olmo was not in the starting lineup in Spain’s first match of the 2026 World Cup against Cape Verde, as he sat on the bench, but he quickly established himself as an indispensable element in Luis de la Fuente’s squad, and he is expected to lead the team’s attacking play in the semi-final clash against France on Tuesday.

The Spanish national team is known for its possession-based style and play between the lines, something Olmo excels at remarkably.

With a style based on ball possession, Olmo’s participation seems essential, thanks to his ability to link the midfield and attack.

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

The 28-year-old Barcelona player is experiencing the best phase of his career. Although his talent and playmaking ability were never doubted by a few followers, repeated injuries prevented him from achieving consistency, which likely cost him a broader 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 is not a problem, it is a challenge I set for myself, to prove it again, as I have always done,' adding that, unlike his teammates, he had to emigrate outside Spain as a teenager to build his football future.

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

Emigrating for Success

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

Instead of moving to a big club in Europe, he and his family chose to go to Dinamo Zagreb, a club known for its reputation in polishing young talent — from which Luka Modrić emerged — despite being away from the spotlight in 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 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 emerge, before moving to Leipzig where he honed his talent in the German league, 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 open spaces 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 the 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 Simón, Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Fabián Ruiz), Olmo won the European Under-19 Championship in 2019 under his leadership.

Two years later, he called him up again for the Tokyo Olympic Games, where Spain won the silver medal, even though he had made his first international appearance with the senior team and scored a goal just 3 minutes after stepping onto the pitch in a 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, as he won the UEFA Nations League title 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 dynamism 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 defender is the striker, and the rest follow him.'

This match is considered a real test of Spain’s ability to compete with a team the size of France, especially on the attacking front. Everyone is counting on Olmo to create balance between midfield and attack, benefiting from his international experience and previous experiences in big matches. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to avoid the injuries that have disrupted his career in the past, to give his best in this crucial encounter.