Just five months ago, Mikel Merino needed a mobility scooter to move around. A fractured foot had taken away his ability to walk normally, ended his club season early and placed his World Cup hopes in serious doubt.
On Friday night, he was racing towards a loose ball inside Belgium’s penalty area with Spain’s place in the semifinals hanging in the balance.
Luis de la Fuente played his final tactical card in the 86th minute. Spain had controlled much of the quarterfinal, yet the score remained locked at 1 to 1. Extra time was closing in. Merino needed only 117 seconds to change everything.
Pau Cubarsi struck a low shot from distance. Senne Lammens, introduced after Thibaut Courtois suffered a leg injury in the 71st minute, could not hold it. Merino had already started his run. He covered the final yards before Belgium could react, reached the rebound first and drove Spain into the final four.
Another short appearance had produced another tournament defining goal.
A World Cup That Almost Disappeared
Merino suffered a stress fracture in his foot while playing for Arsenal in January. Surgery followed, along with a recovery that tested both his body and his confidence.
The injury grounded him for about two months. Forced to rely on a mobility scooter, he could only watch as Arsenal chased major trophies and the World Cup moved closer.
Merino returned to team training in May. He did manage a brief competitive appearance before joining Spain, replacing Declan Rice in the 82nd minute of Arsenal’s final Premier League match at Crystal Palace.
Those closing minutes mattered. They gave him a small taste of match speed after months of rehabilitation. Still, he arrived at the World Cup without anything close to a normal preparation.
De la Fuente responded by managing him carefully. Merino has started only one game at the tournament. His limited minutes could have reduced him to a supporting figure. Instead, they have sharpened his role.
Spain do not need him to control every phase. They need him when control stops producing chances.
Merino Saw the Rebound Before Belgium Did
The winning goal against Belgium captured why Merino has become so dangerous late in matches.
Cubarsi had not even completed his shooting motion when Merino accelerated towards goal. He did not wait beside the penalty spot and hope for a mistake. Anticipating the rebound, he crashed the area as the ball travelled towards Lammens.
The goalkeeper spilled the shot into danger. Belgium’s defenders remained flat for a fraction of a second. Merino kept moving.
That gap decided the quarterfinal.
His reaction was instinctive, but it also reflected experience. Merino entered the game knowing Belgium had spent long periods protecting their penalty area. He understood that a clean passing move might never arrive. A blocked strike, loose touch or goalkeeper error offered a more realistic route.
That same awareness had punished Portugal only four days earlier. Merino entered in the 85th minute with Spain struggling to break through. In the 91st, he attacked the centre, met Ferran Torres’ pass and finished the move that ended Portugal’s tournament.
He has now become the first player in World Cup history to score winning goals as a substitute in separate knockout ties. Across both matches, he played only nine minutes plus stoppage time.
De la Fuente’s trust in him is absolute. After another decisive intervention, the Spain coach described Merino as a player who “never disappoints” and called him “a safe bet.” The phrase fits because Merino rarely needs time to understand what the match demands. He enters already searching for the action that can decide it.
Spain’s Passing Needs Merino’s Physical Edge
Pedri and Fabián Ruiz give Spain rhythm. They receive under pressure, move opponents across the pitch and keep possession flowing through crowded areas.
Merino changes the picture.
At 1.89 metres, he brings size, aerial strength and aggression around the penalty area. He can battle centre backs, protect direct passes and attack crosses. When Spain’s passing settles into predictable loops, he offers a quicker route towards goal.
Against Belgium, Spain recorded 17 attempts but struggled to turn control into separation. Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute after Courtois stopped Dani Olmo’s first effort. Charles De Ketelaere answered with a header in the 41st, becoming the first player to score against Spain at this World Cup.
Spain kept pushing after the break. Courtois made important stops before his injury forced him off, and Belgium continued to crowd the central spaces.
Merino forced them to defend something different. He stopped dropping deep to collect possession. Instead, he stayed near the penalty area and hunted secondary chances.
His value reaches beyond the goals. Merino can reinforce midfield, lead the attack or arrive from behind the forwards. That flexibility lets De la Fuente alter the match without tearing apart Spain’s shape.
Tournament Football Keeps Finding Him
Merino’s recent heroics feel dramatic, but they are not isolated.
At Euro 2024, Spain and Germany appeared headed for penalties when he rose in the 119th minute and powered a header into the net. That goal sent Spain into the semifinals and became one of the defining moments of their title run.
Arsenal have seen the same instinct. All but one of Merino’s 11 Premier League goals for the club have either put his team ahead or brought them level. He has delivered against Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle in domestic competition, while also scoring against Real Madrid in Europe.
The pattern is clear. Merino does not collect empty goals after matches have already been decided. His finishes change the direction of important games.
He also understands how to enter those contests without demanding time to settle. Some substitutes need several touches before they find the speed of the match. Merino arrives ready to compete for the next duel, cross or rebound.
That mentality makes him ideal for knockout football, where one action can outweigh the previous 85 minutes.
France Will Demand More from Spain
Spain now face France with a place in the World Cup final at stake.
The semifinal will test more than Merino’s remarkable timing. France possess greater pace, power and defensive depth than Spain encountered against Portugal or Belgium. They may not offer the same loose ball inside the area.
De la Fuente’s starters must create more danger from Spain’s possession. Pedri, Ruiz, Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo cannot depend on another late rescue after long periods of control.
Yet Merino remains the coach’s ultimate tactical wildcard. He can crash the box from midfield, fight for direct passes or operate as a makeshift target man. Each role gives France a different problem.
His place on the bench no longer makes him a secondary figure. It makes him the threat waiting for tired legs and one moment of hesitation.
Spain are in the final four because Merino has mastered the smallest margins. Give him a few minutes, one rebound or a single opening, and he can decide an entire World Cup night.
READ MORE: Late Goals and Fresh Legs: How Tactical Substitutions Are Deciding the World Cup
FAQs
Q1. Why did Mikel Merino need a mobility scooter?
Merino suffered a stress fracture in his foot and required surgery. The injury stopped him from walking normally for about two months.
Q2. How quickly did Mikel Merino score against Belgium?
Merino scored 117 seconds after entering the match in the 86th minute. His goal sent Spain into the World Cup semifinals.
Q3. What World Cup record did Mikel Merino set?
He became the first player to score winning goals as a substitute in two separate knockout matches at the same World Cup.
Q4. Did Mikel Merino play for Arsenal before the World Cup?
Yes. He returned for a brief appearance against Crystal Palace before joining Spain’s national team camp.
Q5. Who will Spain face in the World Cup semifinal?
Spain will face France for a place in the World Cup final.
