Mikel Merino
Spain midfielder and 2026 World Cup winner; scored both the Portugal and Belgium knockout winners.
Last refreshed: 20 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
After two decisive knockout goals in two years, is Merino Spain's most reliable big-game player?
Timeline for Mikel Merino
Scored two late substitute winners in the knockout rounds
2026 FIFA World Cup: One goal conceded in eight matchesMentioned in: Oyarzabal and Porro send Spain to final
2026 FIFA World CupScored the 88th-minute winner as a substitute
2026 FIFA World Cup: Merino winner sends Spain past BelgiumScored the winning goal in the 91st minute
2026 FIFA World Cup: Merino's late goal sends Ronaldo homeBackground
Merino scored Spain's 91st-minute winner against Portugal, assisted by Ferran Torres, in a match widely reported as Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup appearance. He then scored the 88th-minute winner as a substitute in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Belgium , before Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final on 19 July to win the 2026 World Cup.
The Arsenal midfielder joined the club from Real Sociedad for £31.6 million in August 2024, having previously played for Newcastle United and Real Sociedad. He won the Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad in 2019/20 and the Premier League with Arsenal in 2025/26.
A key figure in Spain's Euro 2024 and 2023 Nations League triumphs, Merino has become Spain's go-to man in knockout football, delivering decisive late goals in successive major tournaments and adding a World Cup winner's medal to that record.
Reference
How did Mikel Merino score the winner against Portugal?
How many caps does Mikel Merino have for Spain?
What club does Mikel Merino play for?
