After facing criticism during his World Cup debut, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal made a triumphant return to Atlanta Stadium on Sunday. Earlier in the tournament, Oyarzabal became the first player since 1966 to not record a touch within the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match. However, nearly a week later, the 5-foot-11 forward etched his name into the record books with an outstanding two-goal and one assist contribution in Spain’s 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. He became only the second player in World Cup history to score or assist three goals within the first 25 minutes of a match, following Hungary’s László Fazekas in 1982.
Spain coach Luis De La Fuente praised Oyarzabal’s impact on the team, stating, “The impact Mikel has on the team is massive, probably bigger than any other player could have in the world. I’m convinced that he’s a footballer who can make history in Spanish football. His numbers are impressive, so I celebrate his performance, and hopefully, we will be able to value him properly.”
Oyarzabal’s assist, a deep cross to 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal, set the tone early as Spain scored their first goal just 10 minutes into the match. Oyarzabal then netted two goals three minutes apart in the 21st and 24th minutes, giving Spain a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime. He finished with five shots, three of which were on target, during his 45 minutes on the field.
In a World Cup debut defined by ups and downs, Oyarzabal remains grounded about his highs and lows, including Sunday’s accomplishments. “In the end, it’s an anecdote,” Oyarzabal reflected after the game. “I don’t give any importance to it. It is what it is. I’m happy to have scored and helped the team. One way or another, I’m always trying to do what’s best for the team.”
The 29-year-old from Eibar focuses on redefining Spain’s national team reputation following Monday’s performance. “When you don’t do things well, when things don’t go your way, you criticize yourself and look internally to improve,” he explained. “We knew we could do much better than the other day. We were eager to turn it around. Starting positively was crucial, and we achieved it.”