​Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images. After scoring the late winner as a substitute in his team’s previous match against Portugal, Arsenal’s Mikel Merino again delivered a decisive moment off the bench for Spain in their quarter-final clash with Belgium on Friday night. Once more, Merino rose to the occasion, pouncing on a miscue by Manchester United’s Senne Lammens to slot home the 2-1 winner and seal another late victory for his side.
OptaJoe notes that Merino has now become the first player in World Cup history to score the winning goal in two different knockout-stage matches as a substitute. Following the match, Spain legend Iker Casillas offered high praise, likening the Arsenal midfielder to David Villa in a social media post: “Merino reminds me of Villa…” The comparison rings true, as Villa achieved a similar feat at the same stage of the 2010 World Cup, scoring twice in knockout games, though not as a substitute. Villa struck the crucial 1-0 winner against Portugal in the last-16 and added another decisive goal in the quarter-finals versus Paraguay.
That tally stood as Villa’s final goal of the tournament, but he ultimately helped Spain lift the title. If Merino is offered a similar prize, a possible triumph with Spain would be a dream come true for him as well.
On his decisive strike, Merino lightheartedly explained to the press that he needed to net a winner against Belgium because his family hadn’t been present for his goal against Portugal. “Since they weren’t there for the Round of 16, I’ve had to repeat it so they can experience it live!” Merino told Mundo Deportivo. He added, “Honestly, I’m so happy they’re here because they are my source of strength. And, well, I’m sure that part of the luck I had—with the ball falling right to me—came from the good energy they’ve given me.” He continued, “I feel privileged to be living through this, and to have my family here with me on top of that. I remember having dinner with my parents and aunts and uncles the other day and saying, ‘What I’m experiencing is incredible—having such a beautiful son, being so happy with my wife, having family close by.’ Well, today, that feeling is even stronger.”
The moment was captured in a frame that will linger in Merino’s memory and in Spain’s campaign as they press toward further glory in the tournament. The game offered another reminder of how mercurial knockout football can be, with Merino’s late intervention once again shifting the balance in a high-stakes match and underscoring the continuing impact of versatile substitutes in World Cup history.