The Panini 2026 World Cup Album is produced months in advance, meaning many selections are based on projections, recent call-ups and expected squads rather than the final 26-man rosters confirmed by national teams.

That timing gap has already created notable mismatches ahead of the tournament, with reports showing that dozens of players included in the album were later left out due to injuries, coaching decisions or late changes in form.

Which players in the album could miss the 2026 World Cup?

More than 10 players included in the Panini 2026 World Cup Album will not feature in the FIFA World Cup 2026 due to final squad omissions, injuries and tactical decisions confirmed after the album’s production.

According to squad-by-squad comparisons published after official national team announcements, the 2026 edition shows one of the highest mismatch rates in recent history. The list so far consists of:

• Eder Militao (Brazil) – listed in album but absent from final roster due to injury
• Rodrygo (Brazil) – included in the album but ruled out due to injury in the final squad lists
• Fermin Lopez (France) – ruled out due to injury before final squad submission
• Serge Gnabry (Germany) – not available due to injury issues
• Xavi Simons (Spain) – ACL injury ruled him out of the tournament
• Matthijs de Ligt (Spain) – fitness issues / surgery recovery concerns
• Valentin Carboni (Argentina) – ACL injury ruled him out
• Juan Foyth (Argentina) – Achilles injury, left out of final list
• Luis Angel Malagon (Mexico) – injury concerns linked to Achilles surgery situation
• Diego Lainez (Mexico) – included in album but not in final plans in several reports
• Hirving Lozano (Mexico) – present in album but omitted in final squad projections

Why are players in the Panini 2026 album not in the World Cup?

Players appear in the Panini 2026 World Cup Album but do not end up playing in the FIFA World Cup 2026 because the sticker collection is finalized months before national teams submit their official squads.

The album is produced on a fixed global printing schedule, while FIFA regulations require federations to name provisional and final squads closer to the tournament start date. Many players who will take part have also not been included.

For the 2026 edition, teams only submit their final 26-man lists in the weeks leading up to the competition, meaning any changes after Panini’s production cutoff are not reflected in the album.

This timing gap creates inevitable mismatches. Players can be included based on early call-ups, projections, or expected form, but later miss out due to injuries, loss of form, or tactical decisions made by national team coaches.

As a result, the album works as a snapshot of expected rosters. To bridge this gap, Panini typically releases update packs after final squad confirmation, but by then the initial printed collection will already include different names.

Does the Panini album match official World Cup squads?

No, the Panini 2026 World Cup Album does not fully match the official FIFA World Cup 2026 squads because it is produced before national teams finalize and submit their official tournament rosters.

According to FIFA regulations, each of the 48 participating nations must submit a preliminary list of 35–55 players, followed by a final squad of up to 26 players, with deadlines set just days before the tournament begins.

The Panini album is locked much earlier in the production cycle to allow global printing and distribution. This creates a structural gap between what fans see in the album and the actual tournament squads.

He suffered a tear in the adductor muscle of his right thigh during training in mid-April. The issue affects a key muscle group used for acceleration and shooting, making it impossible for him to return in time for the semifinal tie, where a win, tie or draw will change everything for Bayern and PSG.

In fact, Bayern have already ruled him out “for a longer period”, with some reports suggesting he could miss the remainder of the season. His absence leaves Vincent Kompany‘s team without one of its most direct attacking threats. Follow Bayern vs PSG live with us and don’t miss a single thing!

How did Serge Gnabry get injured?

Serge Gnabry suffered his injury during a Bayern Munich training session, where he tore the adductor muscle in his right thigh while taking part in drills. The club later confirmed the diagnosis after medical examinations, ruling him out.

Further reporting revealed that the injury occurred during penalty practice in training, making it a non-contact muscle injury. This type of setback is common late in the season, when players face accumulated fatigue and high physical load.

When could Serge Gnabry return?

Serge Gnabry is expected to be out for several weeks to months, with reports indicating a recovery timeline that could extend up to 3–4 months. That estimate effectively rules him out for the remainder of Bayern’s current campaign.

Because the injury involves a torn adductor muscle—a critical area for sprinting and shooting—Bayern are expected to take a cautious approach to his rehabilitation. Gnabry himself has already confirmed he will miss major upcoming competitions, including the 2026 World Cup.

How important is Serge Gnabry to Bayern’s roster?

Serge Gnabry is one of Bayern Munich’s key attacking players, offering goals, versatility and experience in high-pressure matches. His role is central to how Bayern structure their offense across multiple competitions.

During the 2025–26 season, he contributed 10 goals and nine assists across all competitions, ranking among the team’s top contributors in total goal involvements. His ability to play on either wing or in more central attacking roles gives tactical flexibility.

His absence has been described internally as a major blow. Coach Vincent Kompany acknowledged that Gnabry had carried a significant attacking load earlier in the season, highlighting how difficult it is to replace his combination of pace, movement and finishing.

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The German winger picked up the injury just over a week ago, and early assessments confirmed it was significant enough to rule him out not only of this match but potentially the remainder of the season.

His absence has added to the growing list of unavailable figures, with Vincent Kompany also suspended for the match, leaving the club short-handed heading into one of its most important games of the year, with the result set to shape the final stretch of its UCL campaign.

What happened to Serge Gnabry?

Serge Gnabry suffered a torn adductor muscle in his right thigh, an injury that has ruled him out for an extended period. As a result, he has been ruled out of the UEFA Champions League semifinal against PSG.

The Bayern Munich winger picked up the injury in mid-April, and the club quickly confirmed it was a significant setback. The tear affects a critical muscle group used for acceleration, shooting, and quick directional changes.

When will Serge Gnabry return to play?

Serge Gnabry is not expected to return this season and could be sidelined for several months. Reports indicate the injury requires a lengthy recovery process, and Bayern Munich have already ruled him out “for a longer period”.

Beyond club competition, the injury could also impact his availability for international duty, including major tournaments, depending on how his rehabilitation progresses. For now, they will have to move forward without him.

How has Serge Gnabry performed this season?

Serge Gnabry has been an efficient contributor for Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, recording 2 goals and 4 assists in 10 appearances this season. His contributions translate to 6 direct goal involvements.

While not always the focal point of Bayern’s attack, he has played an important supporting role, averaging 50 minutes per match and maintaining a 94.8% passing accuracy, which highlights his reliability in possession and link-up play.

Looking at advanced output, he has totaled 7 goal contributions (goals + assists) in the competition, showing his ability to impact games even without starting consistently.

Beyond raw numbers, his role has been tactical. He often operates as a flexible wide forward, capable of drifting inside or stretching defenses, which creates space for teammates like Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala.

His top speed (over 31 km/h) and consistent attacking runs underline how he helps maintain Bayern’s vertical threat. His form has also been solid domestically, with 8 goals and 6 assists in Bundesliga play.

His time with the German national team has been very short. In fact, he made his official debut with Die Mannschaftas a 21-year-old in 2016, against San Marino in a qualifiers game to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Also, he made his World Cup there, where the German team ended up last in the group stage for the first time ever.

In his five-season performance with one of the biggest clubs in Germany, FC Bayern, Gnabry has won four Bundesliga titles in a row, two German Pokal champioships, one Super Cup, as well as one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, all of them in 2020.

Serge Gnabry’s contract with Bayern

According to latest reports regarding FC Bayern’stop salaries, Serge Gnabrycurrent salary is an estimate of€19,000,000 per year. Which means he earns more thanLeon Goretzka,Dayot Upamecano, to be the 7th highest-paid player in the Bayern’s squad.

How much does Serge Gnabrymake a week?

Considering Gnabry’s current€19-million annual salary, he currently earns an estimate amount of€1,584,000.00per month. That would make an estimate of€365,000 a week;€52,000a day;€2,000 per hour;or €36.21perminute. Although since 2017, Gnabry has been donating 1% of his salary to ‘Common Goal’ iniative managed by the NGOstreetfootballworld.