Spain midfielder Josep Guardiola will miss the World Cup for the second time after tests on a knee injury revealed ligament damage.
Former Barcelona captain Guardiola was hoping to make a late bid to be part of Jose Antonio Camacho's squad next month.
Guardiola, who now plays for Brescia, also missed the finals in France four years ago because of a knee problem.
Spain, again highly fancied by many, will face Slovenia, Paraguay and South Africa in the Group B in the finals.
"He has suffered damage to his collateral ligament and will be out until the end of July," said a spokesman for Guardiola's Italian club.
The World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan begin on 31 May.
It is another setback for the 31-year-old who twice tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone late last year.
He served a four-month ban in his first Serie A season for the northern club.
Since his return to action in March he has featured regularly for Brescia, who are fighting to avoid relegation.
Guardiola sustained the injury in Brescia's 5-0 defeat by Juventus on Sunday.
Spanish boss Camacho had recently hinted that Guardiola could gain a place in his final squad of 23.
However the veteran was not called up for Spain's recent friendlies against Northern Ireland and the Netherlands.
Guardiola played every game for Spain at Euro 2000, helping them reach the quarter-finals.
He also helped his country reach the last eight in the World Cup in 1994 and earned a recall to the international set-up before his November ban.