Oyarzabal Names Messi Best Striker in 2026 World Cup

Mikel Oyarzabal, the 29-year-old forward for Spain and captain of Real Sociedad, identified Lionel Messi as the best striker in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup. During an interview on the Spanish radio program "El Partidazo de Cope," Oyarzabal expressed that he would not categorize Messi strictly as a striker, stating, "he's everything" in football.

Oyarzabal has had an impressive tournament, scoring twice in Spain's 3-0 victory over Austria in the round of 32, bringing his total to four goals in World Cup history. His performance places him in contention for the Golden Boot alongside other notable players.

Messi, at age 39, scored his 20th goal during Argentina's round of 32 match against Cape Verde, extending his record as the highest goal scorer in World Cup history. This match marked Messi's eighth consecutive World Cup match in which he found the net.