Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has received a significant boost to his 2026 World Cup ambitions.
Fellow Spanish international Joan Garcia singled him out for high praise during a recent interview. The Barcelona shot-stopper recently earned his first senior call-up to Luis de la Fuente’s squad.
Consequently, he described the Arsenal number one as a standout performer on the global stage. Speaking to El Larguero, Garcia highlighted Raya’s ability to handle the unique physical demands of English football.
“Right now, I like David Raya,” Garcia explained when asked to name the world’s best goalkeeper.
“He’s having a fantastic season in the Premier League. He’s under immense pressure with set-pieces, his footwork. He is playing at a very high level, and I’m really enjoying watching him.”
🧤 🇪🇸 𝐉𝐎𝐀𝐍 𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐀 elige en #ElLarguero al MEJOR PORTERO DEL MUNDO en estos momentos…
👀 ¡Y juega en la @SEFutbol! 🙌
🗨️ "Me gusta DAVID RAYA. Está haciendo un temporadón en la Premier League (…) Está a un nivel muy alto y me está gustando mucho su temporada" pic.twitter.com/LUl5iNufah
— El Larguero (@ellarguero) March 24, 2026
Joan Garcia is included in the Spanish team alongside Raya, Unai Simón, and Álex Remiro for this month’s friendlies against Serbia and Egypt.
“A Very High Level”: Joan Garcia backs David Raya for World Cup starting spot
Raya’s statistical dominance during the 2025/26 campaign provides a clear justification for this recognition.
The 30-year-old currently leads the Premier League Golden Glove race with 15 clean sheets in 31 appearances.
Moreover, his consistency extends to European competition with a total of 21 shutouts in 40 matches across all tournaments.
Raya is now aiming to complete a historic hat-trick of Golden Glove awards. Such a feat would cement his status as one of the most reliable modern goalkeepers in the game.
Beyond his shot-stopping, Raya’s proactive aerial claims have become foundational to Arsenal’s tactical identity.
His elite footwork allows the Gunners to bypass aggressive pressing systems from deep. Similarly, Luis de la Fuente is keen to utilise these playmaking traits for the national team.
While Unai Simón remains the established number one, Raya’s form in the world’s most demanding league makes a compelling case. He is now firmly in contention to start in North America this summer.
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