Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong ended the 2026 World Cup carrying a problem with his right knee. According to Ferran Correas of SPORT, de Jong dealt with discomfort throughout the final stages of the tournament.
The Netherlands were eliminated by Morocco in the Round of 32 after penalties. De Jong played 110 minutes in that match despite persistent pain in his knee.
Barcelona do not consider this to be a serious injury. It is expected that a period of rest following the international campaign will allow de Jong to fully recover before the start of pre-season training.
Players returning from the World Cup are entitled to three weeks of vacation. De Jong is expected to rejoin the squad shortly before the pre-season camp in England at the Football Association’s training center.
Other Barcelona players also faced fitness issues during the World Cup. Ronald Araújo suffered a calf injury and returned to Spain briefly for treatment. Raphinha had a muscle injury and missed several Brazil matches, including a likely Round of 16 game against Norway.
At this stage, there is no indication that de Jong’s knee injury will delay his preparations for the new season.
