Spain national football team substitute midfielder Mikel Merino scored a dramatic 88th-minute match-winning goal to secure a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Belgium national football team in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal encounter at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood. Entering the pitch as a late tactical replacement, Merino capitalised on a critical goalkeeping error just 117th seconds into his individual appearance on the field. The clinical strike broke a tense 1-1 deadlock that had persisted since the first half after Belgian forward Charles De Ketelaere cancelled out the initial opening goal from Spanish star Fabián Ruiz.
The reigning European champions successfully booked their ticket to the tournament semi-finals, where they are scheduled to clash against Kylian Mbappe and two-time champions France in Arlington on July 15.
🏁 ¡¡𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗦 𝗘𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗦 𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗟!!
🇪🇸 🆚 🇧🇪 | 2-1 | 90+7’#VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/c6BRNcyA0F
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 10, 2026
Super Sub Mikel Merino Strikes At The Death Following Critical Goalkeeping Lapse
How Mikel Merino scored this goal needs to be studied 🥹
Unlucky Belgium with Courtois, Lammens, De Bruyne and Doku 😭
Spain vs France will cook 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JpJv3DztiB https://t.co/JrE6psi4CZ
— Wins (@WinsLFC) July 10, 2026
The definitive moment of the tactical knockout battle arrived just two minutes before the conclusion of regulation time as the match appeared destined for exhausting extra periods. Spain launched a powerful offensive surge that culminated in a fierce long-range shot which substitute Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to clean up cleanly near the goalmouth area. Mikel Merino demonstrated incredible positional awareness to pounce on the loose ball first and calmly lift his close-range shot over the stranded keeper to spark wild celebrations on the Spanish bench.
Belgian Defence Collapses After Unfortunate Injury To Star Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
Elite goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off the pitch in tears in the 70th minute after suffering an apparent leg injury during a routine defensive clearance sequence inside his box. The forced introduction of young backup keeper Senne Lammens completely altered the defensive chemistry of the backline, which had previously looked solid under pressure from Spanish wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Belgium had originally clawed their way back into the contest during the 45th minute when Charles De Ketelaere scored a brilliant equalising goal to nullify the 39th opening strike by Fabián Ruiz. Midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne created multiple dangerous transition opportunities before receiving a late yellow card for a tactical foul as fatigue began to impact both rosters.
