Mikel Merino: Spain's Super-Sub Stuns Belgium, Reaches Semifinal
For the second straight knockout match, Mikel Merino came off the Spain bench and needed only minutes to become the hero — and now La Roja are one win away from a World Cup final.
A Rebound, a Flash of Instinct, and Spain's Winner
Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in Los Angeles on July 10 to reach the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and once again it was Mikel Merino who delivered the decisive blow. The Arsenal midfielder entered the match in the 86th minute, replacing a tiring teammate as head coach Luis de la Fuente searched for fresh legs to close out the quarterfinal. It took Merino barely two minutes to make his mark: in the 88th minute, Pau Cubarsí unleashed a driven effort from range that substitute Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens could only parry into the danger area, and Merino was perfectly placed to slam the rebound home for what proved to be the winning goal.
The strike completed Spain's comeback after Belgium had briefly leveled the score, and it sent the Spanish bench into wild celebration as the final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory and a place in the last four of the tournament.
Deja Vu: The Same Trick He Pulled Against Portugal
If the sequence felt familiar, that's because it was. Four days earlier, in Spain's round-of-16 clash with Portugal on July 6, Merino had entered as a substitute in the 85th minute and struck again in stoppage time — a 90+1 winner that eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and, according to multiple reports, closed out the veteran forward's World Cup career. Between the two games, Merino has needed only a handful of minutes on the pitch to produce match-defining moments, prompting pundits and rival fans alike to brand him Spain's "super-sub."
Speaking after the win over Belgium, a smiling Merino reflected on the repeat heroics: "I've done this again, and it's happened to me again, so it would seem that coincidence exists. If you're ready and you try, it can happen for you. I'm very, very pleased," he said, according to reports from the mixed zone in Los Angeles.
From a Mobility Scooter to Match-Winner
Merino's road back to the World Cup stage was reportedly far from guaranteed. In late January 2026, he suffered a stress fracture in his right foot during Arsenal's Premier League defeat to Manchester United and underwent surgery shortly afterward, posting on social media that he was "already closer to be back." Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta later described a recovery that, while encouraging, still carried real uncertainty about whether Merino would be fit in time for the tournament. Sources close to the Spain camp told reporters that Merino remained optimistic about being available by May, and his recovery ultimately allowed him to make Luis de la Fuente's final World Cup squad — a turnaround that has made his impact in the knockout rounds all the more remarkable.
De la Fuente's Trusted Weapon Off the Bench
This is not the first time Merino has produced a late winner for de la Fuente's Spain. He also scored a decisive extra-time goal against Germany in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, making this his third tournament knockout winner as a super-sub under the same coach. De la Fuente has been candid about the plan behind it, explaining that he deliberately held Merino back in reserve to protect him physically after his injury layoff, betting that his experience and composure would matter most in a match's closing stages. Following the Belgium win, de la Fuente called the bench contributions "masterful," reiterating that "the most important players are those who come off the bench" in tournaments decided by fine margins. With these two World Cup goals, Merino now joins Álvaro Morata and Fernando Morientes as the only Spanish men to score multiple goals as substitutes at a World Cup.
What's Next: France Awaits in Dallas
Spain's win over Belgium — covered in detail in our Day 30 results recap — sends La Roja into just their second World Cup semifinal ever, with the first coming during their title-winning run in 2010. Spain will now face tournament favorites France in the semifinal on July 14 in Dallas, a rematch of styles between two of the tournament's most talented squads. Whether Merino starts, comes off the bench again, or is held in reserve once more, few would bet against him making an impact if de la Fuente calls his number late in the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Merino came on as a substitute in the 86th minute of Spain's quarterfinal against Belgium and scored the winning goal two minutes later, converting the rebound after goalkeeper Senne Lammens parried a shot from Pau Cubarsí. Spain won 2-1 and advanced to the semifinals.
Yes. In the round of 16, Merino came off the bench against Portugal and scored a stoppage-time winner in the 90+1 minute, eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo's side. That makes two knockout-stage winning goals as a substitute in the same tournament, a FIFA World Cup first.
Merino suffered a stress fracture in his right foot in late January 2026 during a match for Arsenal and underwent surgery. Reports at the time described an uncertain recovery timeline, but he regained fitness in time to be included in Spain's World Cup squad.
Spain advances to face France in the World Cup 2026 semifinal, scheduled for July 14 in Dallas.