Spain took care of business in Los Angeles, eliminating Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals with a 2-1 result. Fabián Ruiz scored in the 30th minute before Charles De Ketelaere answered before halftime. In the 88th minute, Mikel Merino put the nail in the coffin to send Spain into Tuesday’s highly anticipated clash with France in the semifinal stage.
Der Kaiser: Thibaut Courtois, Belgium
This is a bit of a lifetime achievement award because Courtois may not play another World Cup match. After conceding the opening goal on a rebound,
he locked in and made four crucial saves to give Belgium some much needed hope. His world class positioning and reflexes were on full display against a pesky Spain attack that showcased the unique ability to manipulate space and keep Courtois on high alert. Unfortunately, Courtois was forced to exit the match in the 71st minute due to injury and his replacement coughed up the game winner.
Fußballgott: Rodri, Spain
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner had another quality performance, moving the ball around to lead Spain to 68% possession while adding three defensive contributions. On 118 touches, Rodri maintained 94% passing accuracy and only lost possession 11 times. Most importantly, he helped Fabián Ruiz and Dani Olmo to limit Kevin De Bruyne’s influence in the middle of the pitch.
Der Bomber: Charles De Ketelaere, Belgium
De Ketelaere achieved a feat that no other player has been able to manage during the World Cup: score against Spain. The goal required a few perfect passes that kept the Belgian players barely onside before De Ketelaere snuck inside Pau Cubarsí and beat him for a fantastic header to beat Unai Simón. De Ketelaere created Belgium’s only big chance of the match as Romelu Lukaku’s magic touch never materialized.
Meister of the Match: Mikel Merino, Spain
For the second match in a row, Merino was the hero for Spain as a super sub. He entered the match in the 86th minute and scored two minutes on a rebound from Pau Cubarsí’s blast that bounced off Sene Lammens’ hands. Merino finished the match with a mere three touches but he sure made them count.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- New, improved notifications system!
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
