Spain boss Luis de la Fuente praises Lionel Messi’s character and addresses squad fitness

De la Fuente hails Messi’s character at book launch

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente used a press conference to introduce his new book, La vida se entrena cada día, and took the opportunity to praise Lionel Messi’s character. De la Fuente said that being a good person — "sacrificing yourself for the person next to you" — is a trait of the greats and singled out Messi as both a great player and a great person, suggesting such character can add value beyond raw playing qualities.

Injury concerns and squad importance: Yamal, Williams and Carvajal

Although the event was intended to present his book, de la Fuente addressed fitness concerns around several players. He described Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams as "very important players" for Spain but acknowledged that injuries have been an issue. De la Fuente expressed optimism that they will recover, saying he is convinced the squad will be healthy.

De la Fuente also discussed Dani Carvajal after Real Madrid provided details of an injury to the player. Carvajal sustained a fracture of the distal phalanx of the fifth toe on his right foot, the metadata reports. De la Fuente called Carvajal an important figure in the dressing room, said the injury is "not severe" but that the player will need time, and noted that selection decisions will be made with normality in mind.

What the comments mean for Spain

De la Fuente combined personal reflection with practical squad management: using the publicity around his book to reaffirm the collective values he wants in the national team while offering cautious updates on players carrying knocks. His public praise of Messi is notable because it frames character as an influential part of elite performance, and his comments on fitness underline an ongoing managerial concern about player availability.

• Luis de la Fuente praised Lionel Messi’s character at a press conference for his book La vida se entrena cada día.
• De la Fuente said Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are "very important players" and expressed confidence they will recover from injury.
• Real Madrid detailed that Dani Carvajal sustained a fracture to the distal phalanx of the fifth toe on his right foot; de la Fuente said it is not severe but requires time.
• De la Fuente emphasized that selection decisions will come from normality and that Carvajal is an important dressing-room presence.

What happens next: De la Fuente’s public optimism offers reassurance but leaves concrete timelines unclear. Confirmation of recovery dates, official squad selections and any further medical details for the players mentioned should be sought from federation and club medical statements before drawing firm conclusions.