Who is Spain’s top goalscorer at the 2026 World Cup?
Thanks, in small part, to the scoring exploits of a tournament debutant, Spain are in the men’s quarterfinals for the first time in 16 years.
Appearing at the first World Cup of his career, Mikel Oyarzabal has been Spain’s goal-getter-in-chief this summer - and is close to emulating the tournament tallies of a quartet of La Roja legends.
Oyarzabal’s World Cup double-double
Oyarzabal has bagged four goals in five games in North America, a haul that has helped Spain to return to the men’s World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since winning its sole global title in 2010.
After last-16 victory over Portugal earlier this week, the Spaniards face Belgium at SoFi Stadium today, with the victor advancing to a semifinal matchup against France.
Although Oyarzabal drew a blank against the Portuguese - Mikel Merino was the match winner in Monday’s 1-0 triumph - the striker’s scoring exploits in the last 32 were key to setting up the Iberian showdown in Dallas. Against Austria four days beforehand, the Real Sociedad star netted twice in a 3-0 victory for the European champions, producing a pair of clinical first-time strikes in Los Angeles.
That was Oyarzabal’s second brace - and his second exhibition of unerring close-range finishing - of the tournament.
On matchday two of the group stage, he racked up two goals, as well as supplying an assist, to inspire Spain to a 4-0 thumping of Saudi Arabia. It was a win that served as the launchpad for the Spaniards’ campaign, following the disappointment of a goalless draw with Cape Verde in their Group H opener.
Spain’s goalscorers at the 2026 World Cup:
- Mikel Oyarzabal: 4
- Álex Baena: 1
- Mikel Merino: 1
- Pedro Porro: 1
- Lamine Yamal: 1
- Own goals: 1
“Deserves huge credit”
Against Austria last week, Oyarzabal’s double took his overall tally for Spain to an impressive 29 goals in 58 caps. It’s a mark that also includes the winner in the 2024 European Championship final, and leaves him joint-sixth on the list of the team’s all-time leading scorers. Having overtaken Fernando Morientes to move alongside Fernando Hierro, Oyarzabal now has David Silva in his sights, six goals ahead on 35.
“Another day, another demonstration of his goalscoring abilities,” Spain boss Luis de la Fuente said of the Basque last weekend. “He deserves huge credit.”
Heading into today’s game against Belgium, the forward sits comfortably inside the top 10 in the race for the 2026 World Cup’s Golden Boot; however, he appears unlikely to become the first Spanish player to scoop the award. Currently in seventh, Oyarzabal needs to double his total to reel in the ranking’s top two, France’s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
Oyarzabal has even more ground to make up if he wants to mark his first World Cup by establishing himself as Spain’s highest career goalscorer at the men’s tournament. That status currently belongs to 2010 champion David Villa, who netted nine times across three World Cups, between 2006 and 2014.
However, Oyarzabal is on the cusp of joining a group of former Spain favorites as La Roja’s second-top World Cup marksman. Four players - Hierro, Morientes, Emilio Butragueño and Raúl Gonzalez - all have five tournament goals to their name.
Spain’s all-time highest World Cup goalscorers:
- 1. David Villa: 9 (2006, 2010, 2014)
- 2=. Emilio Butragueño: 5 (1986, 1990)
- 2=. Fernando Hierro: 5 (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)
- 2=. Fernando Morientes: 5 (1998, 2002)
- 2=. Raúl Gonzalez: 5 (1998, 2002, 2006)
- 3=. Estanislao Basora: 4 (1950)
- 3=. Míchel: 4 (1986, 1990)
- 3=. Fernando Torres: 4 (2006, 2010, 2014)
- 3=. Telmo Zarra: 4 (1950)
- 3=. Mikel Oyarzabal: 4 (2026)
Spain vs Belgium: kickoff times, how to watch in the U.S.
Spain and Belgium meet in the World Cup quarterfinals today, Friday, July 10, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT.
If you’re in the U.S., you can watch the game live on Fox Network, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Fox One and fubo. You also have the option of following live-text commentary of the action, right here at AS USA.
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