TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Mikel Oyarzabal once again proved his value for Spain after scoring in La Roja's 2-0 victory over France that secured a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, continuing a remarkable tournament that has quietly established him as one of Spain's most influential players.
Spain defeated France in Dallas on Tuesday thanks to Oyarzabal's first-half penalty and Pedro Porro's second-half strike, advancing to Sunday's final where they will face either Argentina or England.
Sky Sports noted that Spain dominated the semifinal from start to finish as France struggled to impose themselves despite entering the match as one of the tournament favorites.
Oyarzabal opened the scoring after Lucas Digne fouled teenage winger Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. The Real Sociedad forward confidently converted the penalty before Porro doubled Spain's advantage after combining with Dani Olmo in a well-worked attacking move.
France, led by captain Kylian Mbappé, failed to produce a shot on target until late in the match, while Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and other attacking stars were largely neutralized by Spain's disciplined defense.
The victory sends Spain to their second World Cup final, having previously lifted the trophy in 2010, while France must settle for the third-place playoff, marking a disappointing conclusion to Didier Deschamps' long tenure as head coach.
Oyarzabal's latest goal also continued an outstanding World Cup campaign that has seen him emerge as one of the tournament's most consistent performers.
Yahoo Sports revealed that the 29-year-old striker has now scored five goals during the 2026 World Cup and has become one of Spain's most reliable match-winners despite receiving far less international attention than teammates such as Lamine Yamal and players from Europe's biggest clubs.
The Real Sociedad captain has built a reputation for delivering in major tournaments.
He was a key figure in Spain's UEFA Euro 2024 triumph before helping guide La Roja to the World Cup final, scoring crucial goals throughout the tournament.
Against France, Oyarzabal's successful penalty also carried historical significance.
The goal moved him past former Spain captain Fernando Hierro into sixth place on Spain's all-time scoring list with 30 international goals.
His World Cup journey has included a brace against Saudi Arabia during the group stage and another two-goal performance in Spain's 3-0 Round of 32 victory over Austria, making him one of the tournament's leading scorers.
While many of Spain's stars represent European giants such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester City, Oyarzabal has spent virtually his entire professional career with Real Sociedad.
After making his senior debut in 2015 at just 18 years old, he has gone on to score more than 130 goals for the Basque club while remaining one of its most loyal players.
Internationally, he has become equally indispensable.
Since establishing himself in Spain's senior squad in 2019, Mikel Oyarzabal has consistently delivered decisive goals in major tournaments, reinforcing his reputation as one of the national team's most dependable forwards.
Spain will now attempt to capture a second FIFA World Cup title when they face either defending champions Argentina or England in Sunday's final.
Read: Spain Knock Out France to Book Place in 2026 World Cup Final
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