Mikel Oyarzabal has long avoided the spotlight, but his goal-scoring exploits for Spain at the 2026 World Cup have made him impossible to ignore. The 29-year-old Real Sociedad forward scored twice against Austria in Los Angeles, taking his tournament tally to four goals, placing him among the top scorers alongside Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Erling Haaland.
A quiet man in the limelight
Oyarzabal's mother, Dorleta, inadvertently became a viral moment when she blocked the camera from capturing Lamine Yamal's three-year-old brother Keyne celebrating Spain's third goal. A Spanish TV commentator lamented missing the perfect shot, but striker Borja Iglesias quickly defended her, noting she had given them two goals that day. Oyarzabal later acknowledged the footage, saying Keyne is "almost like an icon himself," while deflecting attention from his own role.
Oyarzabal has never sought fame. He has no agent, rarely gives interviews, and prefers to let his football speak. Yet his recent form has forced the conversation. Coach Luis de la Fuente has been his biggest advocate, repeatedly thanking journalists for finally recognising Oyarzabal's contributions. "At last, we're starting to recognise him in Spain. Madre mia! At last," de la Fuente said in a press conference before facing Uruguay. He called Oyarzabal "a great among greats."
Underrated no more
Oyarzabal's numbers speak for themselves. Since scoring the winner in the Euro 2024 final, he has been directly involved in more international goals than Mbappé, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Harry Kane. Only Haaland has more. In his last 18 games for Spain, Oyarzabal has scored 17 goals and provided eight assists. He has also scored in every final he has played, including two Copa del Rey titles with Real Sociedad.
Despite a modest buyout clause of €75 million, Oyarzabal has never been linked with a transfer, partly because he has never pushed for one. "I don't care," he said when asked about being alongside Mbappé and Messi in the scoring charts. His deadpan responses betray no arrogance, only a focus on the team. When an AI query omitted him from a list of top strikers, he replied simply: "Well, they are the best."
Intelligence on and off the pitch
De la Fuente praises Oyarzabal's football intelligence. "He's one of the best strikers going into space, between lines, dropping to the wing," the coach said. "Very few footballers have his ability to interpret the game." Oyarzabal himself explains his philosophy: "Since I was little I've tried to understand play and why things happen. By not getting in the way you can help. There are moments in which, just by positioning, you can help the team without even touching the ball."
Oyarzabal's evolution from winger to centre-forward came after a knee injury that forced him to miss the previous World Cup. De la Fuente had always believed in him, making him one of Spain's captains despite his quiet nature. Midfielder Fabián Ruiz says: "Mikel seems shy, but he is someone you listen to, because he always has the right opinion."
As Oyarzabal continues to score in the United States, the recognition he never sought is finally arriving. "I celebrate the fact that we're talking about him, truly I do, so thank you," de la Fuente said. For a player who has always avoided attention, the limelight may be unavoidable now.
