Mikel Oyarzabal delivers two goals and one assist for Spain against Saudi Arabia
Yahoo Sports • 2 min read • Latest: Jun 21, 2026, 7:57 PM
Last updated Jun 21, 2026
Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals and provided one assist in Spain’s 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium on Sunday. Oyarzabal’s performance marked a significant turnaround from his criticized World Cup debut, where he failed to record a touch in the first 30 minutes. Early on, he assisted Lamine Yamal for the first goal before quickly adding two of his own, achieving a rare feat by contributing to three goals within the opening 25 minutes. Following the match, Oyarzabal downplayed his record-setting performance, emphasizing the importance of team improvement.
- •Spain routs Saudi Arabia 4-0 at Atlanta Stadium on June 21, 2026.
- •Oyarzabal becomes the second player in World Cup history with three goal contributions in 25 minutes.
- •He scored two goals within three minutes in the first half.
- •Oyarzabal had five shots, three on goal, in 45 minutes played.
- •Spain aims to rebuild team momentum following prior criticisms.
- 10:15 AMYahoo Sports — Spain's Oyarzabal bounces back from Cape Verde misfire with brace
- 7:57 PMYahoo Sports — Oyarzabal leads Spain to victory with 2-goal, 1-assist outing after lackluster World Cup debut
"After a highly criticized World Cup debut, Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal returned to Atlanta Stadium with a vengeance on Sunday. Oyarzabal, on Monday, became the first player since 1966 to fail to record a touch in the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match. Nearly a week later, the 5-foot-11 forward found a new home in the record books with a two-goal, one assist performance in Spain’s 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia as just the second player in World Cup history to score or assist three goals in the opening 25 minutes of a match.
"Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised goalscorer Mikel Oyarzabal after the Real Sociedad striker's man-of-the-match performance in the 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia allayed concerns sparked by the surprise goalless draw with minnows Cape Verde. Oyarzabal made unwanted history in the European champions' opener in Group H, becoming the first player in World Cup history not to touch the ball in the first 30 minutes of a game.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 22, 2026, 10:15 AMSpain's Oyarzabal bounces back from Cape Verde misfire with brace
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised goalscorer Mikel Oyarzabal after the Real Sociedad striker's man-of-the-match performance in the 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia allayed concerns sparked by the surprise goalless draw with minnows Cape Verde. Oyarzabal made unwanted history in the European champions' opener in Group H, becoming the first player in World Cup history not to touch the ball in the first 30 minutes of a game.
- Yahoo SportsJun 21, 2026, 7:57 PMOyarzabal leads Spain to victory with 2-goal, 1-assist outing after lackluster World Cup debut
After a highly criticized World Cup debut, Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal returned to Atlanta Stadium with a vengeance on Sunday. Oyarzabal, on Monday, became the first player since 1966 to fail to record a touch in the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match. Nearly a week later, the 5-foot-11 forward found a new home in the record books with a two-goal, one assist performance in Spain’s 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia as just the second player in World Cup history to score or assist three goals in the opening 25 minutes of a match.
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