Victor Munoz has become the first active Liverpool player to win the World Cup since Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina, and only the sixth overall, after Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Sunday's final. The 23-year-old winger, who signed from CD Osasuna in June for €40m (£34m), did not play a minute in the tournament due to a calf injury but earned a winner's medal.
Munoz is now one of two current Liverpool players to have won international football's biggest trophy, alongside Alexis Mac Allister, whose Argentina side beat England 2-1 in their semi-final but failed to register a single shot on target against Spain over 120 minutes. Other active Reds to have won the World Cup include Torres, Reina, Gerry Byrne, Ian Callaghan, and Roger Hunt.
Injury Setback and Manager's Faith
A calf injury picked up while at Osasuna threatened Munoz's World Cup participation, and a setback during recovery saw him left out until the quarter-final against Belgium. Despite this, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente included him in the squad, showing belief in the former Real Madrid prospect. Speaking before Spain's second group game against Saudi Arabia, de la Fuente said: 'Victor has had a small muscular problem (oedema) in another area, it is not a relapse. He's also experienced a lot of emotions and a lot of tension these last few weeks that may have stressed him out. Now he needs calm and tranquillity, and I'm sure we'll see the Victor we know again. We're working on it. Mark my words, Victor is going to be very important for us in this World Cup.'
From Third-Tier to World Champion
Munoz's journey to the top has been remarkable. He was playing in the Spanish third-tier last year before earning a move to Osasuna and then Liverpool. His inclusion in Spain's World Cup squad, despite injury, underscores his potential. Liverpool pipped Newcastle United to his signature, gazumping their deal by matching his release clause at the eleventh hour. The winger made an impression on his Spain debut, scoring in a 3-0 win over Serbia in March.
Lessons from Success
While it was disappointing not to feature, the experience of being part of a World Cup-winning squad will prove valuable. Munoz has not been accustomed to success; his first-team debut for Real Madrid in May 2025 saw him miss a crucial chance against Barcelona, leading to online abuse. He then moved to Osasuna, where the club narrowly avoided relegation in the 2025/26 season. Now, having tasted success, he will be hungry for more at Liverpool.
Speaking after winning the FA Cup in 2022, Trent Alexander-Arnold said: 'To be able to say I have done that at such a young age is a dream come true and it is motivation to go on and carry on winning more trophies. Hopefully there is a lot more to come. The motivation is to win them all again and keep winning and keep adding to the trophy cabinet.'
Role Under Iraola
Munoz is the first signing of the Andoni Iraola era, identified as part of a revamp of Liverpool's options on the flanks. Iraola looks set to utilise his full squad, demanding intensity in training and matches. Munoz's role will be vital in keeping teammates on their toes and delivering on the pitch. With competition for places, he must not only meet standards but help raise them. Given de la Fuente's belief, he should back himself to rise to the challenge.
