Read for 5 minutesKolkata3 July 2026 01:10 PM IST
There is nothing remarkable about Mikel Oyarzabal. In a Spanish squad full of colorful characters like Marc Cuquerella and Lamine Yamal, the Real Sociedad man’s personality doesn’t scream from the rooftops. Despite scoring a brace against Austria and firmly entrenching himself in the race for the World Cup Golden Boot, there has been more buzz about Cucurella’s excellent assists than his quiet performances.
But that’s perfect for a 29-year-old. Because the last time he was in the spotlight, he was savaged by critics after Spain’s 0-0 draw against Cape Verde a few weeks ago. Such was his plight in that match that he set the unwanted record of being the first player in World Cup history to not touch the ball in the opening 30 minutes.
A quiet achiever
Oyarzabal, the silent patron of ‘La Roja’, might wish to do without that kind of pressure. He is far from the chaos that comes with fame where he thrives the most. A loyal soldier, he prefers to shine the light on his teammates rather than himself. So even after scoring a brace against Saudi Arabia he was happy to talk more about Yamal than himself. “He is one of the biggest difference makers in the world right now. The chaos he creates for the opposition works in our favour,” he had said.
The side, who often switches between false nine and out-and-out centre-forward, has long been considered an outlier in the current golden generation. He doesn’t have Yamal’s flair, Pedri’s ball control or Cucurella’s bravado. But there is no need for it. With Spain playing without a recognized striker, Oyarzabal’s role is more fluid, allowing him to score goals and provide assists.
Mikel Oyarzabal (L) celebrates with his teammate Gavi after scoring his team’s third goal. (AP)
That inferior intelligence came to the fore against Austria. For the first goal, where he was expertly found by Cucurella, Oyarzabal must have seemed to be in the right place at the right time. But too eager and rushed to be there at that precise moment and instead of waiting for the ball, Oyarzabal deftly played with Austria’s offside trap and the ball was already in the net after a side-footed finish before a diving David Alaba blocked it. There was no rush, just a lull before the inevitable storm struck again.
Also read | Why Marc Cuquerella, with his old-school qualities, is important in Spain’s engine room
The second goal was a display of classic counter-attacking brilliance as Oyarzabal surged through the middle when Cucurella took the ball from the left. The soon-to-be Real Madrid man slipped the ball past two Austrian defenders to find Oyarzabal, who let the ball roll across his body before finishing with pinpoint accuracy. The move was reminiscent of a video game; It looked so easy.
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The man was beaming with quiet confidence after the match. “I don’t know who I’d prefer to play; I haven’t planned for each team. Bring them on,” he said when asked about his last 16 opponents, who were undecided at the time.
Sharp brain
Oyarzabal has spent 11 years at Real Sociedad, the only club he has played for in his career. Last season, he scored 15 goals, his best for the club. He was one of the players to find the net in the Euro 2024 final against England, which Spain won 2–1. He has scored 17 goals in his last 16 starts for the national team, including a brace against Austria. Yet the spotlight has fallen on others.
But Spanish head coach Luis de la Fuente knows he has a gem on his hands. “He is one of the greats. Finally, we are getting to know him in Spain, my goodness. Oyarzabal is a very intelligent person. You see it in his game, his intelligence and his interpretation of the game. He is one of the best. Few players understand football like him. And after blowing the fugel, he said,” Oyarzabal’s double against Saudi Arabia.
Looking forward to Portugal next weekend, Oyarzabal will now go up against behemoth Cristiano Ronaldo and his army. But if his World Cup so far is any indication, he is unlikely to falter.