Spain’s players celebrate after midfielder #06 Mikel Merino (unseen) scores the second goal during the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Spain and Belgium at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on July 10, 2026.
Spain midfielder Mikel Merino says he is living his “wildest dreams” after scoring another dramatic late winner to send La Roja into the FIFA World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Belgium.
Merino struck in the 88th minute of Friday’s quarter-final, just days after netting a stoppage-time winner in Spain’s 1-0 Round of 16 triumph over Portugal, becoming Spain’s unlikely hero in consecutive knockout matches.
“I couldn’t have imagined something like this even in my wildest dreams—another goal in the dying minutes,” Merino said after the match.
“I thought it would take a long time to repeat a feat like that… and I managed it in the very next game!”
The decisive moment came after Spain defender Pau Cubarsí unleashed a low shot from outside the box. Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to gather the effort cleanly, allowing the ball to spill into the path of Merino, who had been on the pitch for only two minutes. The Arsenal midfielder reacted quickest to fire home the rebound and book Spain’s place in the last four.
Despite his remarkable run of late goals, Merino downplayed suggestions that luck had played a major role, saying his impact was driven by determination and readiness whenever called upon.
“I go out there with drive and belief that I can contribute wherever I’m needed. That’s exactly what I did,” he said.
Merino acknowledged that Spain’s route to the semi-finals has been more demanding than the team’s victorious UEFA European Championship campaign two years ago.
“It was a struggle today,” he admitted, while praising his teammates for overcoming a resilient Belgian side.
Spain will now face tournament favourites France in a highly anticipated semi-final, rekindling a rivalry that saw the Spaniards edge Les Bleus 2-1 during the European Championship.
“It’s going to be a head-to-head battle. That’s how semi-finals always are. We’re going into the match against France hungry and eager,” Merino said.
“It’s an elite-level match, the highest level. We are two teams playing at the very top of our game. We’ll try to do our absolute best.”
With confidence growing and Merino delivering when it matters most, Spain will be hoping their late-game heroics can continue as they chase a place in the World Cup final.
