Mikel Merino, Spain's unexpected hero in the World Cup

Pamplona: Mikel Merino, known as 'El Conde,' has become Spain's unlikely savior in the 2026 World Cup, stepping up when the team needed him most. While stars like Lamine Yamal and Pedri were expected to lead the charge, Merino's late-game heroics have propelled Spain to the semifinals for only the second time in their history.

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Mikel Merino, the unexpected hero of La Roja.

Spain's journey to the final four has been fraught with challenges, marked by hard-fought victories against tough opponents. After a comfortable 3-0 win over Austria in the round of 16, the team faced Portugal, arguably their strongest adversary yet. It was in this tense encounter that coach Luis de la Fuente turned to Merino as a substitute.

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The Count, as Merino is known, has become the ideal substitute for Luis de la Fuente when the outlook looks complicated.

With 85 minutes played and the score deadlocked, Merino entered the field and quickly made an impact. He provided the crucial assist that set up the winning goal, securing a vital victory for Spain and preventing the match from going into extra time. This decisive contribution marked his first major 'rescue' in the tournament.

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Merino, who defined with coldness to give Spain the victory, avoid the extension and sign his first 'rescue'.

The pattern continued in the quarterfinals against Belgium. Called upon again by De la Fuente in the 88th minute, Merino scored the game-winning goal just 117 seconds later, demonstrating his knack for delivering under pressure. His knack for scoring in the dying moments of matches has ignited renewed optimism among Spanish fans, who recall his dramatic 119th-minute equalizer in the Euro 2024 final, which ultimately secured them the championship.

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Merino's romance with last-minute goals makes Spaniards dream even more of the title.