Mikel Oyarzabal has scored in the six finals he has played as a professional
The 29-year-old is bidding to become the first Spain player to notch six goals at the same tournament
No other Spain player has bagged two braces at a single World Cup
When the stakes are at their highest, Spain know they can always turn to Mikel Oyarzabal. Few players in football history can boast a goalscoring record like his, which has been bolstered further at the .
In recent years, the striker has established himself as the most dependable striker Spain have ever had. While he still trails David Villa’s all-time tally for the national team – Villa racked up 59 goals compared to the Oyarzabal’s 30 – he has already broken the record for the most goals notched by a Spain forward over a single season with 14. And he will be vying to add to his tally against Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final in New York New Jersey.
What has defined the Real Sociedad man throughout his career, however, is his composure and determination when it matters most. He has got on the scoresheet in every single final that he has played in as a professional. Even the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Pele, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Johan Cruyff, Gerd Muller and Eusebio are unable to match that record. Oyarzabal is football’s ultimate big-game finisher.
Some of those goals have come from the penalty spot, which may be the simplest way to score in football, yet also the most likely scenario for a player to freeze. A penalty in a final can define a player’s career for better or worse. Oyarzabal embraces that responsibility calmly, backed by a flawless spot-kick record in finals.
The Spaniard has competed in two Copa del Rey finals for Real Sociedad, converting a penalty on each occasion. On the international stage, Oyarzabal has featured in two UEFA Nations League finals, a UEFA EURO final and an Olympic final, finding the net in all four.
The powerful strike against France on Tuesday was another illustration of his composure from 12 yards. , even though the goalkeeper guessed the right way.
Another historic milestone is now in Oyarzabal’s sights on Sunday as he could become the first Spain player to score six goals at a single World Cup. His strike against Les Bleus drew him level with Emilio Butragueno and Villa, who chipped in with five goals at the 1986 and 2010 tournaments respectively.
His name may not strike fear into opponents in quite the same way as some of today’s other superstar forwards, but none of them can match Oyarzabal’s remarkable final record. If you ask him, however, he would almost certainly choose getting his hands on the trophy over finding the net ever again in a final. Perhaps that is the secret of his success as he pursues something extraordinary with the quiet assurance of someone who has never needed to be the centre of attention.
Sources: FIFA Official
