Real Sociedad now boast eight World Cup winners | OneFootball

Real Sociedad now count eight World Cup winners after Spain beat Argentina in the edition staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Mikel Oyarzabal, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino have joined the list.

According to Diario Vasco, Oyarzabal hit five goals and one assist, equalling Emilio Butragueño and David Villa as Spain's top scorers in a single World Cup. He started all eight matches and is the first to win it while a Real player.

Zubimendi, now at Arsenal after a €70 million move last summer, did not feature until the final, when he replaced Rodri in the first half of extra time. He celebrated with the flag of Donostia.

Merino, also at Arsenal, did not start any match but was decisive with late goals against Portugal and Belgium that carried Spain into the quarter-finals then the semi-finals. He went close with a header in the final and posed for a photo with his fellow realistas.

Xabi Alonso and David Silva were part of Spain's 2010 triumph.

Antoine Griezmann won in 2018 with France after rising at Real from 2009 to 2014, while Gerónimo Rulli lifted the 2022 crown with Argentina as a back-up and now plays for Olympique de Marseille. Irene Paredes was a 2023 champion and previously played for Real.

Four of the eight, Alonso, Griezmann, Oyarzabal and Zubimendi, came through Zubieta. Paredes could not because the women's pathway did not exist, though Real was her first professional set-up after Ilintxa, Urola and Zarautz.

Source: Diario Vasco