Spanish striker Mikel Oyarzabal set an unwanted record to became the first player since 1966 to play the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match without touching the ball once.
Oyarzabal set an infamous record in Spain’s first group-stage match against Cape Verde at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spain drew 0-0 with Cape Verde in their Group H first match at Atlanta Stadium in the U.S. on June16th.
Despite Spain dominating the match with a possession of 74 per cent and a total of eight shots on target, the Real Sociedad star Oyarzabal – the solo striker – did not touch the ball until the 31st minute.
No other player at the major tournament has managed that feat on record.
He was completely isolated upfront. According to statistics provider Opta, this marks the first instance since the 1966 World Cup statistics began being compiled of a player having “no ball touches in the first 30 minutes of a match.”
Fans took to social media to react, with one person writing: “My golden boot shout isn’t starting well.”
Another commented: “I didn’t believe this was even possible at all, imagine playing football for 30 minutes and not touching the ball once, must be surreal.”
He is a legendary striker for Sociedad. He has worn the Sociedad jersey for over 10 years. In the 2025-2026 regular season, he played 34 matches, scoring 15 goals and providing 4 assists, achieving a career-high. He is known for his consistent performance without major injuries.
Spain are now on a four-game winless run in World Cups, tied for their longest winless run in World Cup history.
