Mikel Oyarzabal Ugarte (born 21 April 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Real Sociedad, which he captains, and the Spain national team. He has spent his entire professional career with Real Sociedad, making more than 400 appearances and scoring over 130 goals.
๐ Club Career
Oyarzabal won the 2019โ20 and the 2025โ26 Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad, scoring in both finals. He joined Real Sociedad’s youth setup in 2011, aged 14, and made his senior debut with the reserves on 15 November 2014.
He made his first-team and La Liga debut on 25 October 2015, replacing Carlos Vela in a 4โ0 victory at Levante. Oyarzabal scored his first goal for Real Sociedad on 8 February 2016 in a 5โ0 away win over Espanyol.
On 3 April 2021, Oyarzabal scored the only goal of the delayed 2020 Copa del Rey final through a penalty to help Real Sociedad beat Athletic Bilbao. In March 2022, he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee during a training session.
Oyarzabal scored his 100th goal for Real Sociedad on 1 December 2024 through a penalty in a 2โ0 home win against Real Betis. He made his 400th appearance on 30 August in a 1โ0 loss at Real Oviedo.
๐ช๐ธ International Career
Oyarzabal made his full debut for the Spain national team in 2016, representing the side at the 2026 World Cup and two European Championships. He won Euro 2024 where he scored the decisive goal in the final.
He scored his first international hat-trick on 5 June in a 5โ0 friendly win over Andorra prior to Euro 2024. In the finals in Germany, he played all seven games for the champions, starting once.
Oyarzabal was called by Spain for the 2026 World Cup. On 15 June, in their opener against Cape Verde, he became the first player on record (since 1966) to fail to touch the ball in the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match.
๐ Key Statistics
| Category | Detail | Year | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| First senior goals | Scored twice | 2015 | Mensajero |
| 50th club goal | Achieved milestone | 2020 | Granada |
| 100th club goal | Penalty goal | 2024 | Real Betis |
| First international goal | Scored in 3โ0 win | 2019 | Sweden |