Oyarzabal, the World Cup’s unlikely star who says he is no leader | OneFootball

Oyarzabal has become Spain’s understated spearhead at the World Cup, presenting himself as no leader, simply a man from Eibar intent on helping others. The Real Sociedad captain, at the club for 15 years and still shy of 30, is driving Spain through goals and calm authority.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, his measured manner mirrors his game and Euro 2024 proved a turning point. In Donaueschingen he stressed that his main virtue is raising training standards, pushing so hard that team-mates must compete for every ball to keep up.

Mikel Merino later echoed that view, noting Oyarzabal’s habit of winning internal tests and savouring football again after injury. The pair ultimately delivered the Euro to Spain. Remarkably, Oyarzabal has scored in every final he has played, including the Under-21 European Championship in 2019, Copa del Rey in 2021 and 2026, the Olympics in 2021, the Nations League in 2021 and 2025, and Euro 2024.

Against Switzerland he again unsettled the game from the No 9 role, with David Alaba highlighting his superior football intelligence, movement between the lines and knack for controlling matches without endless touches. Team-mates such as Lamine and Pedri have even said they would like to see him in blaugrana.

Seventeen goals and seven assists in 17 matches have drawn widespread praise. Thierry Henry admires his innate timing and space creation, while Paul Scholes hails a low-profile forward who delivers relentlessly, without fuss or fanfare. Away from the noise he prefers the Pyrenees near Jaca and Eibar with his son Martín and partner Ainhoa, who are currently with him in the United States.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo