NEW YORK, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Lamine Yamal will continue to attract the spotlight for Spain at the 2026 World Cup, with the 18-year-old dazzling fans with his skill and maturity, but another player is quietly proving just as decisive.
Mikel Oyarzabal continued his prolific scoring run for La Roja with the second and third goals in a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, helping calm nerves after Spain had opened the tournament with a goalless draw against Cabo Verde.
The Real Sociedad forward made headlines against Cabo Verde after waiting more than 30 minutes for his first touch of the ball, although that owed more to Spain's slow tempo, which allowed defenders to squeeze him out of the game.
Spain increased the pace in every aspect against Saudi Arabia, allowing Oyarzabal to showcase both his striker's instinct and the qualities that have made him one of the national team's most effective players.
The 29-year-old from Eibar now has 27 goals in 55 appearances for Spain, moving level with Fernando Morientes as the country's sixth-highest scorer of all time.
He scored six goals during Spain's World Cup qualifying campaign and added three assists, while his winning goal in the Euro 2024 final underlined his ability to deliver in decisive moments.
Oyarzabal offers more than goals. He has also provided 12 assists in his 55 international appearances, while his ability to drift across the front line and cut inside from either wing creates space for teammates arriving from deeper positions.
Despite his influence, he continues to operate largely under the radar, often going unnoticed until he joins the celebrations.
Spain's lack of a traditional No. 9 in the mold of Harry Kane has been cited as a potential weakness, but Oyarzabal compensates with intelligent movement, work rate and consistent end product.
With Spain expected to challenge deep into the tournament, he could emerge as an unlikely contender for the Golden Ball, perhaps even ahead of Yamal. ■