Mikel Oyarzabal truly deserves the title of the humble hero from the land of bullfighting.

17/11/2025 07:31:00 ScoreStream

In the early hours yesterday, Mikel Oyarzabal was the standout player for Spain during their 4-0 triumph on Georgian soil in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, scoring twice and providing an assist. These marked his 12th, 13th, and 14th goal contributions over just 8 recent appearances for La Roja.

When discussing the Spanish national team, the spotlight seems to always have its stars. It’s the explosive wildness of Lamine Yamal, the wind-slicing runs of Nico Williams, the regal calmness of Rodri or Pedri in midfield. Within this "rowdy group," there is one name quietly fulfilling his role: scoring goals, assisting, scoring again, and assisting once more. That player is Mikel Oyarzabal.

The king without a crown

The truth is, Oyarzabal is far from "silent." He is the captain and a symbol at his club. He is currently the most efficient attacking machine for the national team. Yet somehow, he is often "overlooked." His name doesn’t appear as frequently on headlines as those of his younger teammates. But Oyarzabal doesn’t mind. All he needs is the ball, the net, and the "Txuri-Urdin" jersey of Real Sociedad or the red shirt of La Roja.

Let the numbers reveal the truth. While the media is busy analyzing Yamal’s potential, Oyarzabal delivers something more tangible: results. Looking at his form over the last 8 matches for Spain, one might be startled. This is not the performance of an ordinary player, but the statistics of a superstar at his peak.

Starting with the Nations League match against the Netherlands, where he exploded with 2 goals in a 4-3 victory. He then continued scoring in matches against Portugal (1 goal), Bulgaria (1 goal), and Georgia (3 goals in 2 games). When not scoring himself, he set up teammates, such as 3 assists against Turkey and 2 key passes in the semi-final against France in the Nations League.

In total, 8 goals and 6 assists across 8 games, featuring in every match. His incredible consistency and output are unmatched by any other Spanish attacker in the same period. Clearly, Oyarzabal is a reliable pillar in La Roja’s frontline.

From a "number 10" winger to a lethal central striker

Oyarzabal’s early career shaped him as a classic left winger. With his magical left foot, he often cut inside to deliver curling shots or create chances with precise passes. He was a "number 10" playing wide.

However, under coach Imanol Alguacil at Real Sociedad, and driven by the national team’s needs, Oyarzabal underwent a major transformation. When the club lacked dependable center forwards, Alguacil pushed his captain to play as the main striker.

Oyarzabal, the superstar who doesn’t seek Spanish acclaim

That’s when version 2.0 of Oyarzabal emerged. He’s not a traditional "number 9"; he’s not physically imposing or reliant on strength to overpower defenders. He plays with intelligence. He is a classic "false 9," frequently dropping deep to link play, stretching the defense, and creating space for teammates like Takefusa Kubo at Real Sociedad or Yamal and Williams in the national team.

But unlike many other "false 9s," Oyarzabal possesses the instincts of a true "number 9." He moves cleverly to be in the right spots and never misses opportunities. His career stats (per Transfermarkt) show a clear shift: 220 matches as a left midfielder but already 82 as a striker. In this new role, his scoring rate has surged, exemplified by 5 goals and 2 assists in 12 La Liga matches this season, averaging 0.43 goals per game.

Luis de la Fuente, Spain’s head coach, has fully capitalized on this version of Oyarzabal. He has become the solution to the striker problem that La Roja has struggled with since the era of David Villa and Fernando Torres. He provides perfect balance: a player who can both link tiki-taka style play and finish chances effectively.

A different definition of glory

To understand why Oyarzabal is "ignored," one must look at his career. In a football world where players constantly seek bigger clubs or the spotlight, Oyarzabal is an "anomaly."

Born in Eibar, Basque Country, he has devoted his entire professional career to Real Sociedad. He is the captain, the symbol, the soul of Anoeta stadium, and has never intended to change that. Numerous lucrative offers have been put on the table. Athletic Bilbao, the Basque rival, once made a huge bid, but Oyarzabal declined. Barcelona, Real Madrid, and giants like Man City and Arsenal have also approached, but his answer remains "no."

He extended his contract until 2028. His idea of glory is different. It was that historic night in April 2021, during the delayed 2020 Copa del Rey final, when Real Sociedad faced their rivals Athletic Bilbao. As captain, Oyarzabal stepped up to take the decisive penalty, securing the club’s first major trophy in 34 years. That is his kind of glory.

Oyarzabal doesn’t need media praise. He finds everything he needs at Real Sociedad. His loyalty and humble nature have unintentionally excluded him from debates about the "biggest star." But that doesn’t matter. When La Roja needs a goal, when the game is stuck, don’t look at the golden boys. Look to the Basque captain. He will be there, doing his job, leading Spain to victory — even if tomorrow’s headlines belong to someone else.

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