La Roja goes global: the historical record of players abroad
From only three footballers outside of Spain in 1966 to nine in the last World Cups. This is La Roja's journey from domestic strength to export power.
The Spanish team has completed a radical transformation, going from being a team almost exclusively made up of La Liga players to a globalized squad that breaks internationalization records in each World Cup. This journey, which began with isolated pioneers in the 60s, reflects the opening of Spanish football to the global market and its consolidation as one of the main sources of talent for the major European leagues. In the 1966 World Cup in England, the Spain squad led by José Villalonga had only three players who played outside the country: Luis Suárez at Inter Milan, and two more players.
