Álvaro Fidalgo
BET
No starts so far this season
Fidalgo has yet to make a start for Real Betis this season.
Analysis: The midfielder was sidelined by a knee injury in preseason and hasn't made a single start so far in 2026/27. With just two appearances in LaLiga and 29 minutes off the bench in the Champions League, Fidalgo seems to be behind Pablo Fornals, Facundo Bernal, Marc Roca and Nelson Deossa in the pecking order in midfield.
Knee condition limits him
Fidalgo stayed on the bench during Friday's win over Real Sociedad, and coach Manuel Pellegrini said "Fidalgo has a knee that isn't at 100 percent", Pablo Sanchez of Zona Mixta reports.
Analysis: Fidalgo's knee problems have been a recurring concern over the past few years, even though this is more of a physical quirk than a specific injury. Nevertheless, at the highest level of competition, he's likely to continue seeing little or no time on the field. Even at full fitness, he would compete for a spot with Nelson Deossa and Marc Roca behind the main midfield pieces Pablo Fornals and Isco.
Finds back of net
Fidalgo scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) and one cross (zero accurate) in Wednesday's 3-0 victory over Czechia.
Analysis: Fidalgo would come onto the field with 18 minutes left in the match and would close out the scoring, with the midfielder finding the back of the net in stoppage time of the second half. This is his first goal contribution of the tournament, as he started in the first game but was unused in the second. That said, this could earn him some more time on the field as they push into the knockout stage.
Active in victory
Fidalgo created one scoring chance in Thursday's 2-0 victory versus South Africa.
Analysis: Fidalgo put in a fair performance in ball distribution duties, with his most relevant contribution being a scoring chance created in his World Cup debut. The naturalized Mexican worked alongside Brian Gutierrez as the more advanced members of a central midfield trio while Erik Lira stayed behind them. That should be the case again in upcoming fixtures, so Fidalgo could be relied on mostly for pass accuracy and individual duel success. However, he may often be subbed off and could lack involvement in the final third compared to other attackers.
Representing Mexico in World Cup
Fidalgo will look to earn starts at the international level as one of the top ball distributors on Mexico's World Cup roster.
Analysis: Fidalgo is poised to make his World Cup debut with Mexico after spending most of his professional development in the country and becoming a naturalized citizen in 2026. The box-to-box midfielder, now with Spanish club Real Betis, cooled off late in the campaign following a strong start to the year, but he remains a candidate for regular minutes in the international event. His fantasy value projects as fairly balanced, with his passing quality helping him get involved in playmaking and possession sequences. During his recent club action, he scored one goal in 13 games played (10 starts) across all competitions.
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