Mikel Merino makes FIFA World Cup history, becoming the first player to…

Spaniard Mikel Merino (6) celebrates (Photo AP) Mikel Merino continued his remarkable impact off the bench by firing Spain into the 2026 World Cup semi-finals with another decisive late goal as La Roja beat Belgium 2-1 in their quarter-final at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday. In the 86th minute, the Spanish midfielder needed just two minutes to make the difference. Merino capitalized on the rebound in the 88th minute to score what proved to be the winner to send the 2010 world champions into the last four where they will face France. The strike came just days after the 30-year-old made another dramatic cameo in the last eight. Against Portugal, Merino was also brought on from the bench before scoring the only goal of the game in stoppage time to seal Spain’s progress to the quarter-finals. These two strikes have now earned Merina a place in FIFA World Cup history. He is the first player to score the winning goal as a substitute in two different knockout matches in a single World Cup. He also became the first footballer to score two winning goals for Spain at the FIFA World Cup from the 80th minute. Although Merino appeared in all six of Spain’s matches at the tournament, he was only named in the starting eleven once. The midfielder made five appearances as a substitute, underscoring his growing reputation as a Spanish game-changer from the bench. His only start of the tournament came against Uruguay on June 26 at the Estadio Akron in Zapopan, where he played 60 minutes before being substituted. Against Belgium, Spain took the lead in the 30th minute when Fabian Ruiz converted after Thibaut Courtois parried Dani Olmo’s effort after an attacking move sparked by Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro. Belgium restored parity before the break when Charles De Ketelaere headed home Timothy Castagne’s cross in the 41st minute. The goal ended Spain’s run of six consecutive clean sheets at the World Cup and ended goalkeeper Unai Simon’s streak of 650 consecutive World Cup minutes without conceding. The Red Devils suffered a major setback in the 71st minute when Courtois went off with an injury after making his 21st World Cup appearance, leaving him second only to Germany legend Manuel Neuer among goalkeepers at the World Cup. Spain finally found a breakthrough late on when Pau Cubarsi’s long-range effort was palmed away by substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Merino reacted quickest to the loose ball and tapped home from close range to deliver another knockout stage win. The victory sent Spain to their first FIFA World Cup semi-final since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010 and extended their unbeaten run in regular time to 36 matches, a streak that dates back to a friendly defeat to Colombia in 2024.