Bayer Leverkusen midfield dynamo Aleix Garcia eyes Spain's 2026 World Cup squad selection

After joining from Girona in 2024, the Spaniard struggled for minutes under Xabi Alonso, but everything changed when Kasper Hjulmand arrived in September 2025.

With Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz departing and Exequiel Palacios injured, Garcia earned his chance and has started 11 of Leverkusen's 12 Bundesliga matches this season.

"He's become better and better since my arrival," Hjulmand said. "He has great touch and rhythm, he is very important for us."

Playing deeper alongside teenager Ibrahim Maza, Garcia has become the team's metronome. No Bundesliga player has touched the ball more this season, with 1,308 touches and an average of 121 per match. He also leads the league in open-play passes (1,161) with a completion rate of 93.88 per cent, plus a league-high passing-efficiency score of plus 22.6. His three assists are already close to last season's tally.

Garcia has joked about past comparisons to Luka Modric, adding that his long passing has echoes of Toni Kroos or Andrea Pirlo. Off the ball, he has been equally impressive: winning 61 per cent of his duels, committing just one foul and covering 11.8 kilometres per match.

His Champions League form has strengthened his Spain prospects, scoring twice against Paris Saint-Germain and shining in a 2-0 win at Manchester City. He leads Spanish midfielders for attempted passes (334) in the competition, completing 90.2 per cent.

After earning his first senior start in Spain's recent 2-2 draw with Turkiye, Garcia knows strong club form is essential. "We have a great squad with super players," he said. "If I keep performing, I'll be in the fight to go to the World Cup."

In his second Bundesliga season, Garcia has become Leverkusen's driving force, and his rise shows no sign of slowing.