ATLANTA — Just six days after one of the most humbling opening-match performances in modern World Cup history, Spanish forward Mikel Oyarzabal delivered a career-defining turnaround at Atlanta Stadium on Sunday, etching his name into the tournament’s record books while powering La Roja to a lopsided 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
Oyarzabal’s World Cup introduction just one prior Monday had drawn widespread criticism: he became the first player in more than half a century, since 1966, to register zero touches on the ball across the opening 30 minutes of a World Cup group stage fixture. But the 29-year-old left that disappointing showing firmly in the rearview mirror, producing a breathtaking first-half display that saw him register two goals and one assist — making him only the second player in World Cup history to contribute to three goals in the opening 25 minutes of a match. No player has achieved that rare feat since Hungary’s László Fazekas pulled it off more than four decades ago in 1982.
Spain’s head coach Luis De La Fuente heaped glowing praise on his forward’s redemptive performance after the final whistle, emphasizing Oyarzabal’s irreplaceable influence on the national squad. “The impact Mikel has on the team is massive, probably bigger than any other player could have in the world,” De La Fuente said. “I’m convinced that he’s a footballer that can really make history in Spanish football. His numbers are crazy, so I do celebrate his performance, and hopefully, we will be able to value him properly.”
Oyarzabal set the tone for Spain’s dominant run early, playing a pinpoint deep cross to 18-year-old breakout star Lamine Yamal that handed La Roja a 10th-minute opening goal. He followed that game-setting assist with back-to-back strikes just three minutes apart, finding the back of the net in the 21st and 24th minutes to push Spain to a 3-0 lead going into halftime. By the time he was subbed off at the break, Oyarzabal had notched five total shots, three of which were on target, in just 45 minutes of play.
For a player whose 2026 World Cup run had already been defined by sharp highs and crushing lows, Oyarzabal said he remains unphased by both the criticism of his debut and the acclaim for his historic rebound. “In the end, it’s an anecdote,” Oyarzabal told reporters after the match. “I don’t give any importance to it. It is what it is. I’m happy to have scored, to have helped the team. One way or another, I’m always trying to do what’s best for the team.”
While the Eibar-born forward downplayed his new record-book distinction, he acknowledged that bouncing back from his underwhelming debut was a top priority for both him and the entire Spanish squad. “When you don’t do things well, when things don’t go your way, you criticize yourself, you look internally to try to improve. We knew we could do much better than the other day,” he explained. “We were looking forward to turning it around. It was very important to start with the right foot, and that’s what happened.”
AP Sports Writers James Robson and Tales Azzoni contributed reporting to this article.