Mikel Oyarzabal leads Spain to victory with two goals in 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia

World CupOyarzabal leads Spain to victory with 2-goal, 1-assist outing after lackluster World Cup debutSpain’s Mikel Oyarzabal returned to Atlanta Stadium with redemption on his mind. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain celebrating after scoring his team's third goal against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday.Justin Setterfield / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 21, 2026, 4:50 PM EDTBy The Associated PressAfter a highly criticized World Cup debut, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal returned to Atlanta Stadium with a vengeance on Sunday.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.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. He’s the first to achieve the feat since Hungary’s László Fazekas in 1982.“The impact Mikel has on the team is massive, probably bigger than any other player could have in the world,” Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said after the match. “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.”His assist, a deep cross to 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal, helped Spain set the tone early with a goal at the 10-minute mark. Oyarzabal then followed with two goals spaced three minutes apart — in the 21st and 24th minutes — to give Spain a 3-0 lead heading into halftime.Oyarzabal finished the game with five shots — three on goal — in 45 minutes played.Spain's Oyarzabal scores during the World Cup Group H soccer match against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday.Colin...