Oyarzabal's performance against Saudi Arabia was explosive and decided the match early on. In the 10th minute, he delivered a pass with the outside of his left foot that bypassed the entire opposing defense, setting up Lamine Yamal to open the scoring. Directly involved in the game's decisive action, the 28-year-old striker scored two quick goals from close-range opportunities in the 21st and 24th minutes. This sharpness contrasted sharply with his previous record of not touching the ball at all in the first 30 minutes of the draw against Cape Verde.
Oyarzabal's impressive goal-scoring record has propelled him into the ranks of the greatest goalscorers in Spanish football history and set new world records. Statistics from Opta show he is only the second player in World Cup history (since 1966) to be directly involved in three goals within the first 25 minutes of a match. The only other player to achieve this was Laszlo Fazekas of Hungary in 1982. For the national team, Oyarzabal officially surpassed legend Emilio Butragueno and equaled Fernando Morientes' record of 27 goals. In his last 13 appearances for the national team, the striker has been involved in 21 goals, including 14 goals and 7 assists. Oyarzabal often patiently waits for mistakes and delivers the punishment at the decisive moment.
 |
| Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winning goal against Saudi Arabia. Photo: AP |
Oyarzabal's effectiveness stems from his sharp tactical thinking rather than flashy individual technique. Coach Luis de la Fuente once stated that his pupil possesses the mind of a future manager. He knows how to read situations, makes intelligent off-ball movements, and effectively exploits the spaces between opposing defenses. This pragmatic playing style explains why he never panics when out of possession.
Marca quoted coach De la Fuente's comments after the match: "Those who understand football rate Mikel very highly. He has a huge influence on the team and I want to defend Mikel because he is a player who has the potential to make history in Spanish football."
His quiet demeanor and lack of excessive emotional display on the pitch meant he received little attention from the media. Coach De la Fuente suggested that the Spanish media seemed to have a "prophet in his own country is not honored" mentality. A striker with similar performance in another country would undoubtedly receive much more recognition, or even hype.
The composure of Real Sociedad's captain stems from his youth. Unlike most players, Oyarzabal pursued both a football career and his education simultaneously. At 18, he made his first-team debut under coach David Moyes while also attending the Business Faculty at Deusto University (Bilbao). His logical thinking skills honed during his time at university helped him navigate the pressures of football. His appearance also adds a unique element to his personality. Despite being only 1.75m tall, he wears size 47 shoes – the largest size in the Spanish league. Contrary to his nickname "patoso" (clumsy) from his time at the Zubieta youth academy, those enormous feet deliver incredibly refined and precise touches at the highest level of football.
Mikel Oyarzabal is proving himself an indispensable piece in the current Spanish squad. A team with many young, fast, and dynamic players on the wings always needs a reliable attacking threat inside the penalty area. Ignoring the draw and the forgettable statistics in the opening match against Cape Verde, Oyarzabal is enjoying his best days in the La Roja jersey. And let's see, will the absolute faith that coach De la Fuente has in him be enough to support the Spanish national team's ambition of winning their second World Cup?
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/the-thao/worldcup-2026/mikel-oyarzabal-dap-tan-hoai-nghi-1045476
