Barcelona star aims to break Xabi Alonso's invisible Spain record in World Cup 2026
Barcelona's Dani Olmo aims to become only the second player to score Spain's opening goal in two different World Cups as Spain prepare for their match against Cape Verde.
The FIFA 2026 World Cup has started, and tournament favorites Spain are going to start their campaign against Cape Verde tomorrow. This match should be relatively simple for La Roja, especially as recent reports suggest that star player Lamin Yamal has been fit for the match.
The importance of this opening match is even greater for Dani Olmo, as he is attempting to equal Xabi Alonso's record. According to a report from MARCA, Olmo has the chance to become only the second player to score Spain's opening goal in two different World Cups. He already has one goal to his name, which he scored against Costa Rica in Qatar four years ago. The goal was the first of 104 goals scored by Spain under Luis de la Fuente.
Xabi Alonso, now the coach of Chelsea, is the only Spanish player to have achieved this feat twice. He scored the first goal against Ukraine in 2006 and scored a penalty against the Netherlands in 2014. The challenge for Olmo is that he will probably not feature in the starting eleven against Cape Verde, with De La Fuente likely to field Bayana at left back.
Olmo has worked hard to earn a place in Spain's starting eleven due to his excellent physical condition and strong form. He has paid a lot of attention to his fitness ahead of the tournament and is sharp and ready to contribute. His versatile abilities are a huge asset, as he can also play in a more advanced role in a double pivot with Pedri, giving de la Fuente considerable tactical flexibility.
After a season in which he recorded eight goals and nine assists in 46 appearances for Barcelona, Olmo is expected to play a major role as the tournament progresses. It remains to be seen whether he can take the field in time to equal Xabi Alonso's record against Cape Verde.