Who is Mikel Oyarzabal? Spain forward who made history vs Saudi Arabia in FIFA World Cup 2026
(Courtesy : Getty)
Oyarzabal got three goal contributions within 25 minutes against Saudi Arabia.
Mikel Oyarzabal gave Spain a thunderous start during their Group H match against Saudi Arabia in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 tonight. The Real Sociedad player got three goal contributions – two goals and one assist – within 25 minutes for La Roja to put them in control of the contest.
The breakthrough moment came in the 10th minute. The ball found its way to Oyarzabal, who made a darting run down the left flank before playing in an accurate cross into the box. It found the run of Lamine Yamal, who poked it into the back of the net from a tight angle.
After his diving header was saved by Mohammed Al-Owais, the Basque forward finally got his name on the scoresheet in the 21st minute. It came from a corner kick flicked towards the middle by Oyarzabal, which the Saudi defence failed to clear. Aymeric Laporte then headed it towards the Spanish number 9, who fired it over the line.
The attacker popped up in the right place at the right time once again, just three minutes later. Marc Cucurella played an inviting cross that was headed by Dani Olmo. It fell to Oyarzabal, whose initial shot was blocked, but the second one found the back of the net from close range.
In fact, the 29-year-old could have had a hat-trick inside the first half. He played an audacious left-footed flick from a tight angle in the 36th minute. It beat Al-Owais but clattered against the top of the crossbar before going behind harmlessly.
This was a historic performance from Oyarzabal, who had a disappointing performance in the first match against Cape Verde. However, against Saudi Arabia, he became only the second player in World Cup history to register three goal contributions within the opening 25 minutes.
Also Read: Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal makes unwanted FIFA World Cup record against Cape Verde
Mikel Oyarzabal Profile
- Age: 29
- Position: Striker (primary), winger
- Club: Real Sociedad
Born in Eibar, Oyarzabal began his footballing career at the age of 14 in the youth academy of Real Sociedad. He made his debut with the reserve side of the White and Blues just three years later.
The attacker made his senior debut the following year, featuring in a La Liga match against Levante. He scored his first goal in February 2016 in a match against Espanyol and was rewarded with a new contract.
One of the last remaining one-club men in modern football, he has stayed with Txuri-Urdin for over a decade. During this time, he has made 437 appearances for the Basque side, and his record of 133 goals makes him the second-highest goalscorer for his club.
Having represented La Roja at youth levels up to U-21, he made his senior debut in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016. He had to wait three years for his second cap, which came in a Euro qualifier against Sweden.
Since then, he has earned 55 caps, scoring 27 goals and registering 12 assists. Interestingly, he is Spain’s joint-seventh-highest goalscorer, trailing the legendary Fernando Hierro by just two goals.
Who is Mikel Oyarzabal?
He is a 29‑year‑old forward for Real Sociedad and the Spanish national team, capable of playing as a striker or winger.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.