Zlatan Ibrahimović praises Oyarzabal over Yamal after Spain's 4‑0 World Cup win

During a post‑match analysis of Spain's 4‑0 victory over Saudi Arabia at the 2023 World Cup, former striker Zlatan Ibrahimović praised teenage sensation Lamine Yamal as the tournament's best player, but shifted the spotlight to Real Madrid forward Mikel Oyarzabal. Ibrahimović said Oyarzabal “did the work that doesn’t appear in viral clips” – creating space, drawing defenders and opening up teammates – and asked, “Are we watching the same match?”

Spain had previously drawn 0‑0 with Cape Verde before the Saudi Arabia match, where Yamal scored his first World Cup goal and Oyarzabal contributed two goals and an assist. Ibrahimović criticized the media’s focus on a single star, arguing that the team’s success also relies on players like Oyarzabal who work quietly but effectively.