Mikel Merino continued his remarkable impact off the bench as Spain edged Belgium 2-1 to book a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Arsenal midfielder once again emerging as the hero for the European champions.
Merino scored the decisive goal after coming on as a substitute for the second consecutive knockout match, cementing his status as Spain’s ultimate game-changer at the tournament.
The victory sends Spain into the World Cup semi-finals for only the second time in their history. The only previous occasion came in 2010, when La Roja went on to lift the trophy in South Africa.
Luis de la Fuente’s side will now face France in a blockbuster semi-final that promises an intriguing battle between Spain’s rising teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and France captain Kylian Mbappe.
While Mbappe has been one of the tournament’s standout performers, Yamal is still searching for his defining World Cup moment.
Merino, however, has already produced two.
The Arsenal midfielder first announced himself as Spain’s knockout specialist by scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Portugal in the Round of 16 before repeating the feat against Belgium to keep Spain’s title ambitions alive.
His resurgence is all the more remarkable considering the setbacks he endured earlier this year.
In January, Merino suffered a rare stress fracture in his foot, an injury so unusual that specialists admitted they had rarely encountered anything similar. The problem sidelined him for several months, delaying his return to Arsenal and casting serious doubt over his chances of making Spain’s World Cup squad.
He eventually returned to action just a month before the tournament began, earning his place in Luis de la Fuente’s squad after recovering in time.
Now, the 29-year-old is repaying that faith in spectacular fashion.
Although every player dreams of being a guaranteed starter rather than a substitute, Merino has embraced his role as Spain’s impact player, delivering when it matters most.
His intelligence, late runs into the penalty area and composure under pressure have become decisive weapons for Spain during the knockout rounds.
With France standing between Spain and another World Cup final, Merino’s remarkable run of clutch performances has made him one of the tournament’s most influential players—regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench.
If Spain are to emulate their historic triumph of 2010, their unlikely super sub may yet have another unforgettable chapter to write.
