Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s quietest striker, gets the loudest applause at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Football, like life, has a habit of changing fortunes quickly.

Less than a week ago, Mikel Oyarzabal became attached to an unwanted statistic following Spain’s goalless draw with Cape Verde. The striker continued to touch the ball for almost 30 minutes, reflecting an afternoon when little seemed to be working for one of the tournament favourites.

Six days later, Oyarzabal walked off the same pitch with two World Cup goals and an assist in Spain’s 4–0 win over Saudi Arabia.

The turnaround was fitting for a player who has spent much of his career quietly working effectively rather than loudly celebrating.

Unlike many of Spain’s stars, Oyarzabal did not emerge from the academies of Real Madrid or Barcelona. The 29-year-old grew up in the industrial Basque city of Eibar, where former teachers remember him as a respectful, hardworking and mature child who never sought attention despite being the best footballer in the schoolyard.

He joined Real Sociedad as a teenager and has remained there ever since. He became captain and a symbol of a club that continues to challenge the Spanish giants despite operating with a fraction of their resources.

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His value to the star-studded national team extends far beyond the goals he scores. The Basque forward has scored 27 goals in 55 appearances for Spain.

“People who understand football really appreciate Mikel,” said Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente after the victory. «The impact he has on the team is enormous and probably greater than any other. He recently broke a record by not touching the ball for 30 minutes and today he scored two goals and had one assist.»

The 29-year-old, who came through Sociedad’s youth system, has now been directly involved in 21 goals – 14 goals and seven assists – in his last 13 appearances for Spain.

Unlike most of his Spanish teammates, he is not a striker who constantly demands possession. Instead, Oyarzabal occupies defenders, creates space, leads the press and often makes the runs that allow others to shine.

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But when the time comes, he’s usually in the right place.

«He is a footballer who can write history,» said De la Fuente.

He has already played his role in some historical moments. He scored in the 2019/20 and 2025/26 Copa del Rey finals as Real Sociedad lifted the trophy, and he also scored the winner against England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.

After another match-winning performance, Oyarzabal was happy to have revived Spain’s World Cup mission.

«I’m happy that I scored, that I helped the team. Somehow I always try to do what’s best for the team. When you don’t do things right, when things don’t go the way you want, you criticize yourself and look within to try to improve,» he said.

«We knew we could do much better than last time. We were looking forward to turning the tide. It was very important to start with the right foot, and that’s what happened.»

Against Cape Verde, Oyarzabal had become the subject of a difficult statistic. Against Saudi Arabia he reminded everyone why Spain and De la Fuente keep choosing him.

Published on June 22, 2026