Five links between LaLiga and the 2018 World Cup in Russia

- The last three players to win the Golden Ball as the Best Player at the FIFA World Cup played in LaLiga Santander. Zinedine Zidane took the award in Germany in 2006, in what turned out to be his last game as a profesional after five seasons with Real Madrid. In South Africa, Diego Forlan was named the player of the tournament when he was with Atletico Madrid, while Lionel Messi took the accolade in Brazil in 2014 for his performances with Argentina.  

- Twenty of the 32 national teams who are fighting for the title in Russia have players from LaLiga in their squads. Spain has the most LaLiga representatives with 17 players, followed by France, Morocco and Colombia with six each.

- Villarreal CF’s Denis Cheryshev will have the honour of representing the hosts Russia, just as Real Madrid’s Marcelo did with Brazil back in 2014.

-Seven of the 32 coaches at the 2018 World Cup have worked in LaLiga. Alongside Spain coach Fernando Hierro, there is Argentina’s Jorge Sampaoli, Colombia’s Jose Pekerman, Egypt’s Hector Cuper, Iran’s Carlos Quieroz, Saudi Arabia’s Antonio Pizzi and Uruguay’s Oscar Tabarez who all have coaching experience in LaLiga.

- All 20 LaLiga Santander clubs will have at least one representative in Russia, while LaLiga 1l2l3 will be represented by CD Numancia goalkeeper Munir Mohamed with Morocco.