Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal entered the history books after an explosive performance against Saudi Arabia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, scoring twice and providing an assist within the opening 25 minutes.
The Real Sociedad star became the first player in World Cup history to record two goals and an assist in the first 25 minutes of a match. Furthermore, he is only the third player ever to be directly involved in 3 goals (scoring and assisting) within the first 30 minutes of a World Cup game.
Overcoming Criticism and Incredible Stats
This spectacular achievement comes right after Spain’s opening match against Cape Verde, where Oyarzabal shockingly failed to touch the ball during the first 30 minutes. His response on the pitch highlights his incredible ability to handle media pressure and criticism.
Oyarzabal’s phenomenal form with La Roja continues to reach new heights, bringing his total goal contributions to 21 in his last 13 matches (14 goals scored and 7 assists).
A Nightmare Start for Saudi Arabia
On the other hand, the Saudi Arabian national team suffered a historic defensive collapse, becoming only the second team in the 21st century to concede 3 goals in the first 25 minutes of a World Cup match.
The only other nation to experience this early-game disaster in modern history was Brazil, during their infamous 7-1 defeat against Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.
