Oyarzabal is not built around explosive pace or physical dominance. His greatest strengths are his timing, awareness and movement between defenders.
De la Fuente has repeatedly praised his understanding of space and ability to operate between the lines. Those qualities have helped Spain settle on a focal point after years of searching for a dependable central striker.
Villa’s “shark” comparison points to the same quality: Oyarzabal reads the penalty area. He can finish a move, but he can also drag a centre-back away, combine with a teammate or make the run that opens the door for someone else.
His emergence has been a gradual process rather than a sudden breakthrough. Oyarzabal came through the Real Sociedad academy and has spent more than a decade developing within a club known for trusting its own.
Luki Iriarte, the club’s director of football education, has said Oyarzabal was always viewed as a future first-team player, even if his eventual role was not expected to be that of a traditional number nine.
That patience has now been rewarded on the biggest stage. His penalty in the 2021 Copa del Rey final also made him a symbol of Real Sociedad’s revival, ending the club’s long wait for a major trophy.
Spain’s next test is the World Cup final. If Oyarzabal’s movement and composure remain at the heart of their attack, the “shark” may have one more decisive moment to find.