Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and buried a penalty against France on July 14, giving his side a 1-0 lead in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal.
Oyarzabal’s tournament run
Oyarzabal’s penalty conversion wasn’t a fluke moment from a squad player riding luck. The midfielder has been one of Spain’s most consistent attacking threats throughout the tournament under coach Luis de la Fuente.
He previously scored twice in Spain’s 3-0 demolition of Austria in the Round of 32 on July 2. That performance cemented his status as a go-to option in the final third, building on the momentum he carried from his post-Euro 2024 form with the national team.
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