Mikel Merino fuels Spain’s World Cup surge with back‑to‑back knockout‑stage goals

Midfielder Mikel Merino entered Spain’s 2026 World Cup knockout matches as a substitute and delivered decisive late‑time goals in both the round of 16 and the quarter‑final. Against Portugal he came on in injury time and scored the 1‑0 winner in the 90+1 minute, sending La Roja to the last‑eight. Four days later, after entering at the 86th minute versus Belgium, he headed the winning goal in the 88th minute, securing a 2‑1 victory and a place in the semifinals against France.

Merino’s feats set several records: he became the fastest Spanish substitute ever to score at a World Cup – 115 seconds after entering – breaking Enrique Saura’s 1982 mark, and he is the only player in World Cup history to net winning goals in the final five minutes of two separate knockout games in a single tournament. His goal‑celebration, a lap around the corner‑flag, echoes a ritual his father performed in 1991 and has become his personal trademark.

The goals cap a remarkable comeback for Merino, who recovered from a serious foot injury that sidelined him for months earlier in the year. His performances have cemented his status as Spain’s preferred “super‑sub,” giving coach Luis de la Fuente a reliable option when matches drift toward the final minutes. Spain now prepares for a semifinal clash with France.