Spain's Rodri lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy following the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, as Donald Trump, President of the United States and FIFA President Gianni Infantino applaud. Victor Munoz. Picture date: Sunday July 19, 2026.
Spain's Rodri lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy following the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina at the New York-New Jersey Stadium, as Donald Trump, President of the United States and FIFA President Gianni Infantino applaud. Victor Munoz. Picture date: Sunday July 19, 2026.
Victor Munoz is now only the sixth player to win the World Cup while actively registered at Liverpool, after Spain overcame Alexis Mac Allister and Argentina in extra time.
Munoz signed for Liverpool in the early stages of the tournament in a £34.5 million deal, to take the club’s representatives at the World Cup to eight.
However, he carried an injury for the majority of the summer and did not see a minute of action, leaving him as an unused substitute for eight consecutive matches.
The 23-year-old still earned a winners’ medal after Spain’s 1-0 win over 10-man Argentina, with Ferran Torres’ strike in extra time denying Mac Allister a second successive World Cup title.
The Spaniard joins five other serving Liverpool players to have been awarded a World Cup winners’ medal: Roger Hunt, Fernando Torres, Ian Callaghan, Gerry Byrne and Pepe Reina.
Incredibly, only two, Hunt and Torres, played in the final and won.
In total, only 11 players have now lifted the World Cup before, during, or after their spells at Anfield.
Mac Allister is not included in the list Munoz just joined, as he was not a Red when Argentina lifted the trophy in 2022. His move to Anfield was signed off in the summer of 2023.
Former Reds Xabi Alonso, Bernard Diomede, Alvaro Arbeloa and Karl-Heinz Riedle were the others to have been crowned world champions before or after their time at Anfield.
Mac Allister’s final disappointment and pre-season return
3ETF1B8 Alexis Mac Allister of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium, Dallas on Monday 22nd June 2026. (Photo: Pat Isaacs | MI News) Credit: MI News & Sport /Alamy Live News
3ETF1B8 Alexis Mac Allister of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium, Dallas on Monday 22nd June 2026. (Photo: Pat Isaacs | MI News) Credit: MI News & Sport /Alamy Live News
Mac Allister’s World Cup ended with the 27-year-old playing the most minutes of any Argentine outfielder (749) and the fifth-most of any player across the tournament.
Argentina were criticised throughout the final for their lack of desire to play football (zero shots on target), as they instead turned to theatrical displays to disrupt play.
ESPN Argentina‘s Nicholas Baier gave Mac Allister’s 120-minute performance a four out of 10, noting the midfielder was fortunate to escape an early booking for a challenge on Dani Olmo.
As per FotMob, no player was dribbled past more than Mac Allister (four), and he lost the second-most duels of any player (eight).
As for when Mac Allister and Munoz will report for pre-season, a three-week break would only see them join their teammates from around August 10, less than two weeks before the season opener.
Elliott, Iraola, Liver Building collage
Elliott, Iraola, Liver Building collage
Elliott, Iraola, Wirtz FI
Elliott, Iraola, Wirtz FI