Twenty-three players who, while playing for Villarreal, have had the opportunity to feature for ‘La Roja’
The Spanish national team has a history filled with achievements, victories and unforgettable moments that have excited generations for years. Being part of that legacy is a source of immense pride for any player, and only a select few have the privilege of doing so. A total of 23 Yellow players have had the opportunity to wear the red shirt while playing for the Yellow Submarine.
From the Submarine to making history with ‘La Roja’
Writing your name into the history of a national team is something that very few can achieve. Many players dream of reaching glory with their country, but only a privileged group manages to rise to the very top. Nine Yellow players know what it feels like to touch the sky with the Spanish national team.
Joan Capdevila: He is the only player in the club’s history to have won both a European Championship (2008) and a World Cup (2010) while wearing Yellow. The Catalan left-back, a starter in both finals, retired with 60 caps and four goals for Spain.
Carlos Marchena: He once held the record for the longest unbeaten run with Spain (56 matches). The defender arrived in Vila-real weeks after winning the World Cup. He earned 69 caps for Spain and also won the 2008 European Championship.
Marcos Senna: A Villarreal CF icon who earned his place in the history books with a vital role in Spain’s Euro 2008 triumph. Naturalised Spanish in 2006, the midfielder played 28 matches for Spain, including two at the World Cup in Germany.
Pepe Reina: One of Spain’s most historic goalkeepers, both in youth categories and the senior team. His first call-up came during his first spell with Villarreal. He is one of the few players to have won the treble with Spain: Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012.
Raúl Albiol: One of the Yellow players with the most experience for Spain, earning 58 caps (six of them while playing for Villarreal). He was part of the squads that won Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012.
Santi Cazorla: The talented academy graduate made his Spain debut in a friendly prior to Euro 2008, a tournament he later won. He lifted another Euro title in 2012 and earned 81 caps and 15 goals for Spain.
Rodrigo Hernández: He debuted for Spain during his best season as a Yellow (2017-18). He also played at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, won the 2023 Nations League as MVP of both the final and the tournament, and in 2024 became European champion in Germany as one of the team’s most important players.
Álex Baena: It took him just one minute and eleven seconds to score his first goal for Spain. The Roquetas de Mar midfielder debuted in 2023 against Cyprus, becoming Spain’s third-fastest debut goalscorer. In 2024, while a Villarreal player, he won the European Championship in Germany.
Ayoze Pérez: The forward from Tenerife became the 23rd Yellow player to be called up by Spain, debuting in the UEFA Nations League 2024 group‑stage matches against Serbia and Switzerland. That same year, he won the European Championship in Germany.
Yellows Academy presence in the national team
One of Villarreal’s greatest treasures is their academy, which continues to produce talented and valuable players. Ten academy graduates have managed to debut—and even make history—with Spain.
Bruno Soriano: The One‑Club Man played 10 matches for Spain, five of them as a starter. Vicente del Bosque handed him his debut in 2010 in a friendly against Mexico and called him up for Euro 2016.
Mario Gaspar: He debuted for the senior team against Ukraine and represented Spain at U18, U19, U20 and U21 levels. He belongs to the select group of debutants who scored, netting a spectacular semi‑bicycle kick against England (2-0) in his second match.
Alfonso Pedraza: In October 2023, he became the 22nd Yellow to play for Spain. The San Sebastián de los Ballesteros native debuted in a 1-0 win against Norway.
Gerard Moreno: The top goalscorer in Villarreal’s history made his Spain debut on 15th October 2019. In 2021, he played at the European Championship.
Pablo Fornals: The Castellón-born midfielder debuted for Spain in 2016 and, in 2018, already as a Yellow, made another appearance in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pau Torres: On 15th November 2020, the ‘Xiquet del Poble’ became the first Vila-real local to debut for Spain. In that 7-0 win over Malta, he also scored. He later played at Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics, winning a silver medal.
Yeremy Pino: He debuted just before turning 19, against Italy in the Nations League semi-finals (2021). He played in the final, lost against France (1-2), and redeemed himself in the 2023 edition, where Spain won the title on penalties against Croatia. He is the fourth Yellow to win a title with Spain while playing in Vila-real.
This list of academy graduates also includes Santi Cazorla, Rodrigo Hernández and Álex Baena, who have made history with Spain
Other Yellow players in ‘La Roja’
Unai Vergara: The first Villarreal player to represent Spain. The defender played all 90 minutes in a friendly loss to England (3-0) in February 2001.
Antonio Guayre: The Canary Islander, who spent five seasons with Villarreal and won two Intertoto Cups, debuted in 2005 in a World Cup qualifier against San Marino (5-0).
Ángel López: The full-back, who played 150 matches for Villarreal and was part of the 2007-08 runners‑up squad, made two appearances for Spain.
Diego López: In his first season as a Yellow, he debuted for Spain in 2009 in a friendly against Macedonia. He was also called up for the 2009 Confederations Cup, where Spain finished third.
Borja Valero: He coincided with one of Spain’s greatest-ever midfields and could only earn one cap. In that call-up, he shared the squad with Capdevila, Marchena, Bruno and Cazorla. Valero scored the lob that won Spain the U19 European Championship in 2004.
Sergio Asenjo: The goalkeeper with the most appearances in Villarreal’s history debuted in a friendly in St Gallen (Switzerland) against Bosnia and Herzegovina (3-1).
Denis Suárez: The Galician, a youth international at all levels, made his senior debut in his first season as a Yellow. He debuted alongside Sergio Asenjo in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
