Spain have a serious World Cup case, but it is lazy to reduce it to Lamine Yamal. He is the headline act, clearly. The stronger argument is that Luis de la Fuente has a side with a central scorer in form, a midfielder arriving with elite-level pedigree and a competitive run that keeps stretching. That is why the favourites tag feels credible.

Yamal is the attraction, not the whole case

There is no point pretending Yamal is not the face of this team. Zlatan Ibrahimovic told goal.com: "Lamine Yamal is a special player. He's a player you pay those very expensive tickets for, a player you come to the stadium for, and thanks to whom you can simply enjoy the experience."

That part is obvious on and off the pitch. Yamal's Barcelona jerseys reportedly sold 1.32 million in 2025, more than any other player in the sport. At 18, he is already the player opponents fear and supporters pay to see.

But building a World Cup winner around one teenager is a bad way to read this Spain side, and the evidence around him is stronger than that. Gaizka Mendieta's point on Sky Sports was the sensible one. Spain have been "very consistent in performances and results" and "it is a very solid team."

That solidity is reflected in the unbeaten run. Spain are technically unbeaten in their last 31 competitive matches, although that needs the small caveat that the Nations League final ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Portugal. If you dislike counting that as unbeaten, fine. If you follow the record as it is usually framed, the number is still 31, and that speaks to a team with more going for it than one star winger.

Oyarzabal gives Spain a real scoring threat through the middle

The clearest reason this squad feels deeper is Mikel Oyarzabal. He is not marketed like Yamal and probably never will be, but Spain now have a reliable scorer through the middle rather than a useful wide forward filling gaps.

Oyarzabal has scored 13 goals in 16 caps since Euro 2024. That is the number that changes how this attack is viewed, because it turns Spain from a team with flair into one with a proper finisher as well.

Mendieta explained the role shift better than anyone. Speaking to skysports.com, he said: "He used to play more in the wider areas. Now he is playing more centrally and he is scoring goals in key games. The work ethic that he has is unbelievable. He is not a big name among the fans but I think he is a fantastic player."

That lines up with what Spain have been getting from him. Oyarzabal scored the winning goal against England in the Euro 2024 final, and he has kept scoring since. He also leapfrogged Alfredo Di Stefano with a brace against Serbia in March and now sits among Spain men's all-time top 10 goalscorers.

Mendieta also told Sky Sports: "Oyarzabal will surprise a lot of people. People will be thinking about Lamine Yamal, all the Barca guys. But Oyarzabal just won the cup with Real Sociedad and has improved his game a lot."

That feels right. The surprise should not be that Oyarzabal is good. It should be that so many still talk about this attack as if Yamal is carrying it alone.

Fabian Ruiz is the other reason Spain look complete

If Oyarzabal gives Spain a scorer, Fabián Ruiz gives them the sort of midfield depth contenders usually need. He has won the Champions League back-to-back with Paris Saint-Germain and is now being described as a late bloomer finally getting the credit he deserves.

There is a tendency to treat Ruiz as the supporting piece rather than a difference-maker in his own right. That undersells him a bit. Mendieta's view was glowing: "I love everything about him. For someone of his height, because he is a big guy, he is very dynamic too. He can score goals, he can play in different positions. He can play at the base of the midfield or he can play as a No 10. He is a fantastic player."

That versatility matters in tournament football. A side can survive one quiet game from Yamal if it still has a central scorer in Oyarzabal and a midfielder who can shape matches from different roles. Spain look built that way.

Yamal will still dominate the conversation, and probably the cameras too. He should. But the more persuasive case for Spain as World Cup favourites is the one that starts with Lamine Yamal and then keeps going through Oyarzabal, Ruiz and a 31-match competitive unbeaten run that has made this team look unusually stable. If Spain go deep, it will not be because they had one wonderkid. It will be because they had far more than that.

FAQ

Are Spain really World Cup favourites beyond just Lamine Yamal?

The strongest case for Spain goes beyond Lamine Yamal alone. Spain are technically unbeaten in their last 31 competitive matches, Mikel Oyarzabal has scored 13 goals in 16 caps since Euro 2024, and Fabian Ruiz arrives after winning the Champions League back-to-back with Paris Saint-Germain. That is a deeper platform than simple star dependence.

Why is Mikel Oyarzabal so important to Spain now?

Oyarzabal's role has changed and his output has followed. He used to operate more from wider areas, but he is now playing more centrally and has scored 13 goals in 16 Spain caps since Euro 2024. He also scored the winning goal against England in the Euro 2024 final, which adds weight to the idea that he delivers in big games.

What makes Fabian Ruiz such a big part of Spain's World Cup hopes?

Fabian Ruiz gives Spain more than midfield control. Gaizka Mendieta praised his ability to play at the base or as a No 10, and Ruiz arrives with two straight Champions League titles with Paris Saint-Germain. He looks like a late bloomer who now has the experience and status to matter in the biggest matches.

Does Spain's 31-match unbeaten run still count after losing on penalties to Portugal?

That point can still be argued, and it is fair to mention the penalty shoot-out defeat to Portugal in the Nations League final. But the run is being framed as a competitive unbeaten record because the shoot-out does not count as a loss in that record. By that measure, Spain are technically unbeaten in 31 competitive matches.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →