Iker Casillas, Spain's most-capped player, was omitted from Julen Lopetegui's first squad as the new coach of La Roja on Friday.
Casillas, 35, has won two European Championships and the World Cup over the course of his 167 senior appearances for his country, but is not included on the list for the upcoming internationals against Belgium and Liechtenstein.
Fellow veterans Cesc Fabregas, Pedro Rodriguez, and Juanfran Torres were also left out of the squad to play Belgium in a friendly on Sept. 1 and then host Liechtenstein in their first 2018 World Cup qualifier four days later.
Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas, who recently secured his place in the group stage of the Champions League for an 18th consecutive season with current club Porto, lost his place in the starting XI to Manchester United's David De Gea at Euro 2016.
Lopetegui, who brought Casillas to Porto last summer while in charge of the Portuguese club, moved earlier this week to deny reports that he was set to offer the goalkeeper a coaching role with the national team.
OFICIAL | Primera convocatoria de @julenlopetegui para los compromisos ante Bélgica y Liechtenstein #SEFlive pic.twitter.com/GFJqKYSEKu
- Selección Española (@SeFutbol) August 26, 2016
"I spoke with Casillas," Lopetegui, a former goalkeeper, told a news conference. "He is my friend and he is a reference point for the national team. We have decided that our starting goalkeeper is David De Gea.
"In any case we have not shut the door to Iker's place in the national team. Iker is a special player."
Fabregas was a member of Spain's squad in France this summer but the 29-year-old has had limited playing time for Chelsea at the start of this season.
"For the first time in 11 years Cesc is not here," Lopetegui said. "However, he is in our plans. He has only played 15 minutes in the first two official league games (for Chelsea). We will take into account his form and performances."
Fabregas's Chelsea teammate Costa is back. The Brazil-born striker has struggled to make an impact with Spain, scoring just once in 10 international appearances since becoming a naturalised player in 2014.
However, Costa has scored two goals in two league starts for Chelsea and Lopetegui expects good things from the 27-year-old.
"Diego has convinced us," Lopetegui said. "He's had a good pre-season and a good start to the campaign. His presence in the team is positive. I want us to have different alternatives in attack even if we play the same style of football.
"Diego fits in perfectly with what we want."
Manchester United's Juan Mata missed the cut for Euro 2016 but is back.
Real Madrid's Marco Asensio has made the list of 24 after an impressive summer with his club. Asensio scored in Real's European Super Cup final win over Sevilla and in his team's 3-0 triumph at Real Sociedad in their La Liga opener.
"He has had a great preseason and a great start to the season," Lopetegui said. "He has quality, youth, he is a very interesting player. He is showing a lot of maturity. We hope he will show that with us and we will try to help him."
Lopetegui replaced Del Bosque, who stepped down after eight years in charge following Spain's round-of-16 elimination from Euro 2016.