Second after Valdés! Joan García achieves a unique milestone
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The friendly match between Spain and Egypt, held on March 31, 2026, at the "RCDE" stadium in Barcelona, became a landmark event for Catalan football fans. In the 62nd minute, 24-year-old goalkeeper Joan García took to the pitch, replacing David Raya. For the Barcelona shot-stopper, this appearance marked his debut for the national team, ending a lengthy "drought" for the Catalan club in the Spain squad.
Details: According to MisterChip, Joan García is the first Barcelona goalkeeper to play for Spain since the legendary Víctor Valdés, whose era with the national team spanned from 2010 to 2014.
Despite the fact that many talented keepers have featured for Spain over the past decade, it was García—who joined Barcelona from Espanyol—who managed to bring a Blaugrana presence back between the posts for the national team.
It's worth noting that the match against Egypt remains goalless for now, with the score still 0-0 as of the 80th minute.
Reminder: Martín Zubimendi left the Spain squad due to knee discomfort.
