Before every Spain game at this World Cup, Lamine Yamal has dominated the fan shirts, but it’s Mikel Oyarzabal who has truly shone. The 29-year-old Real Sociedad striker scored twice in a decisive 3-0 victory over Austria in the last-32 tie, marking Spain's first knockout win in 16 years.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague noted Oyarzabal's intelligence and match-winning ability, referring to him as the "invisible man" who has consistently delivered in finals. Despite missing the 2022 World Cup due to an ACL injury, Oyarzabal returned stronger, netting 12 goals in 12 international appearances leading up to the tournament.

His latest performance against Austria extended his incredible record to 17 goals in his last 16 starts, with four goals already in this tournament. Balague emphasized Oyarzabal as Spain's most decisive player.

Former Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta highlighted Oyarzabal's central role in the attack, noting his transition from the wing to a more central position. Since last year, only Erling Haaland has scored more international goals than Oyarzabal among European players.

Oyarzabal's achievements include becoming the first Spanish player to score twice in a World Cup knockout match since Emilio Butragueno in 1986. His success is complemented by Yamal's ability to attract defenders, creating space for Oyarzabal to exploit.

Having played his entire career at Real Sociedad, Oyarzabal enjoyed a standout season, scoring 15 league goals last term. His passion for scoring dates back to his youth in hockey, where he learned to seize opportunities. Oyarzabal shared, "I could smell goals, and that voice was always in my head," illustrating his innate goal-scoring instinct.