Oyarzabal joins World Cup Golden Boot race with four in four | OneFootball

Mikel Oyarzabal has surged into the World Cup Golden Boot race with four goals in four matches. Diario Vasco notes the Real Sociedad captain’s rise has been defined by humility.

The Eibar-born forward hit braces against Saudi Arabia, 0-4, and Austria, 0-3 in the last 32. Next up is Portugal on Monday at 21.00, a meeting with Real team-mate Gonçalo Guedes.

He is level on four with Vinícius and Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 Ballon d’Or. Erling Braut Haaland and Harry Kane have five, Kylian Mbappé six and Leo Messi seven.

His star has grown in North America without the glamour or marketing pull of some rivals. He says he would trade personal accolades for team success, values having his family around and the dressing room’s healthy atmosphere, and he does it with Real Sociedad rather than a Champions League powerhouse or the MLS with Messi.

Work rate underpins the craft, he has covered almost 32 kilometres, compared with Messi’s 17 and Kane’s 43.5.

For Spain he has 17 goals and six assists in his last 17 matches. The Austria brace lifted him to 29 in 57, moving past Fernando Morientes and level with Fernando Hierro in sixth.

Source: Diario Vasco