Oyarzabal's brace snubbed as Yamal takes MVP award

MVP controversy: Yamal takes the award while Oyarzabal's brace goes unrewarded

On 2 July 2026, FIFA named Lamine Yamal as the MVP of the Spain-Austria World Cup quarter-final. The decision, made by popular vote on the organisation's website, has sparked intense debate. Mikel Oyarzabal had scored a brace and Marc Cucurella had provided two assists, but the award went to the 17-year-old winger.

An award that divides opinion

Some argue that Yamal was the most unsettling player on the pitch. "He always had three or four defenders on him, which freed up space for his teammates," the argument goes. From this perspective, his impact is not reflected in goals or direct assists, but in the pressure he creates. Critics, on the other hand, point out that Oyarzabal, with two goals, had stronger numbers. They add that because the MVP is decided by popular vote, it may be swayed by a player's media popularity rather than objective performance.

Bias and accusations

The debate has gone beyond sport. Some comments have suggested possible racial bias, while others blame an alleged media "agenda". The discussion has also drawn references to other sports, such as the NBA, where disputed MVP choices have also occurred. FIFA, for its part, maintains that the popular voting system is transparent and that the winner received the most fan votes.

The controversy seems far from over. With Portugal on the horizon, the Spanish national team is trying to focus on the football, but the shadow of the MVP still looms over the dressing room.