Take Kubo’s rough patch: four straight benchings and no goals in 2026

Take Kubo is going through what MARCA describes as his worst spell since joining Real Sociedad. The Japanese winger again failed to get minutes at Mestalla against Valencia, repeating a similar scenario he had at Elche. Per MARCA, that means he has now racked up four consecutive substitute appearances, and the bigger issue is that he has not scored in 2026: he has gone nine months without finding the net.

No start in recent games

The piece also says the coaching staff have leaned on other options in recent matches. Over the last four Real Sociedad games — versus Elche, Atlético, Bournemouth and Valencia — Kubo has not been included in the starting XI, and in the first and fourth of those fixtures he didn’t even play.

Injury context and a delayed return

MARCA links the dip to a tough lead-in. Kubo joined Real’s pre-season late due to the injury he suffered in his opening match for Japan at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, a tournament where Japan were eliminated in the round of 16. After working apart for weeks, he made his return in the second friendly, against Colonia, playing the last half-hour with a bandage on his left knee.

Although he started the season opener at Betis, MARCA notes that his output has not matched what he used to deliver. In total, he has played 16 matches for Real in 2026 without scoring, having missed around three months through injury just when he seemed to be getting back to his best. The outlet adds that his national-team break could help him reset, and that once he’s back he will be chasing his first goal of the year.