Seven Villarreal CF footballers are participating in this year's World Cup: Renato Veiga, Tani Oluwaseyi, Tajon Buchanan, Pape Gueye, Nicolás Pépé, Alex Freeman, and Logan Costa. This figure represents a new record for the club, surpassing the previous maximum of five players, which was achieved in the 2006, 2010, and 2018 World Cups.
After the first round of matches, an assessment of the players' performance can be made, many of whom are debuting in a World Cup. Canadians Oluwaseyi and Buchanan have played the most minutes so far. Oluwaseyi played 76 minutes in the debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina and 19 against Qatar. Buchanan completed 61 minutes against Bosnia and played 81 minutes against Qatar, contributing two key passes and four shots on goal.
American Alex Freeman has had an excellent World Cup start. He played the full 90 minutes in the debut against Paraguay, contributing an assist and scoring a goal against Australia. With his goal, Freeman becomes the third Villarreal player to score in a World Cup, after Giovani Dos Santos and Denís Chérysev.
Among the other internationals, Senegalese Pape Gueye has played the most minutes (83 minutes against France), excelling defensively with seven recoveries. Ivorian Nicolás Pépé played 77 minutes against Ecuador and 13 against Germany. Portuguese Renato Veiga played the full 90 minutes of the draw against DR Congo, primarily contributing to ball circulation.
Logan Costa, a center-back from Cape Verde, is the only Villarreal player who has not yet debuted. After a knee injury, his competitive rhythm is progressive, and he is expected to get minutes gradually in the tournament.
