Real Madrid 2026 calendar omits Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold

Real Madrid players Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold were omitted from the club's official 2026 calendar released this week, a decision that comes as both players manage fitness and form concerns while seeking to establish their roles at the Bernabeu. The calendar features a range of first-team stars and was published ahead of the new year.

The omissions coincide with a mixed week for both players. Bellingham, who remained in Madrid during the recent international break to continue his recovery, featured in a club friendly against Real Madrid Castilla and helped his side to a 2-1 victory. Spanish reports said he scored with a lob in that match. The England midfielder has undergone shoulder surgery over the summer and has not yet completed a full match since returning to action, a factor cited by England manager Thomas Tuchel for leaving him out of the national squad for the break.

Tuchel described his selection reasoning in recent comments, saying "Teamwork, team spirit were at the highest level so far" and that the England staff decided "to invite the same group into this camp, to make more stable what we started to build." He added that there is a route back into the...