Spain midfielder Mikel Merino has scored six goals as a substitute in official internationals since the start of 2025. His brace helped Spain beat Croatia 2-1.
Merino came on at halftime with Spain trailing 1-0 and equalised in the 61st minute. He scored the winner in the 88th. Opta data show he has scored in six of the 16 matches in which he appeared as a substitute during the period. No other player for a European national team has scored more goals off the bench.
His six goals came in five matches. Before his brace against Croatia, Merino scored against the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium and the Czech Republic. The run began in a Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands in March 2025. He came on in the 84th minute and equalised in stoppage time.
He also scored as a substitute in the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds. Merino entered the round-of-16 match against Portugal in the 85th minute and scored Spain’s winner in the 91st. In the quarter-final against Belgium, he came on in the 86th minute and scored the winner two minutes later.
Merino scored against the Czech Republic in the 89th minute after entering midway through the second half. Against Croatia, he came on at halftime and scored twice.
Since Luis de la Fuente took charge of Spain, Merino has scored seven goals as a substitute. Opta says that is more than any other Spanish player in the same period. His other goal came against Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter-final. Merino came on in extra time and headed Spain to a 2-1 win in the 119th minute.
Six of his seven goals under de la Fuente either levelled the score or put Spain ahead. His goal against the Czech Republic was the only one that did not change which team was leading. After the Croatia match, the coach called it an “honour and a pride” to work with Merino and said the midfielder does not receive the recognition he deserves.