Mikel Merino once again proved to be Spain’s unlikely hero, scoring a late winner as La Roja defeated Belgium 2-1 to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals.
Spain controlled much of the match and took the lead through Fabián Ruiz, but Belgium responded before half-time with Charles De Ketelaere’s equaliser. Despite Spain’s dominance, Belgium remained dangerous and pushed the game into a tense finish.
With the match heading towards extra time, Merino was introduced as a substitute and made an immediate impact. Just minutes after coming on, the Arsenal midfielder capitalised on a mistake from Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens to score the decisive goal in the 88th minute.
Merino has now developed a reputation as Spain’s ultimate big-game substitute. After scoring the dramatic winner against Portugal in the previous round, he delivered again when his team needed him most, becoming one of the standout stories of Spain’s World Cup run.
Spain will now face France in the semi-finals, with Merino’s late-game heroics adding another layer of confidence to a team chasing its second World Cup title.
