Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal were the stars of the show as Spain finally announced their arrival at the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia.
The pressure was immense on La Roja to produce not only a win, but a performance after a dismal goalless draw against Cape Verde in their Group H opener on Monday.
It was one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history - but Spain hit back at any critics with a classic showing of quick passing, attacking football and lots of goals.
Yamal was back in the starting XI after an electric cameo last week and immediately showed why he is one of the best players in the world. He poked home Oyarzabal's low, fizzing cross on a tight angle for his first World Cup goal on his first World Cup start.
He told DAZN after the game that he watched the last tournament in 2022 from his classroom: "Being able to score here with my mum and my family in the stands is a dream come true."
Oyarzabal's quickfire double soon put Spain out of sight - all before the first hydration break in the 25th minute. His first was a scrappy poke home at the back post, before a more intentional finish two minutes later.
He should have completed his hat-trick after collecting a poor back pass from Mohammed Al Owais, but his first-time hit pinged off the top of the crossbar.
Oyarzabal and Yamal were replaced at half-time, which a smart move from Luis de la Fuente - who celebrated his 65th birthday on Sunday - with more trying tests to come.
While Spain were less intense after the break, they remained dominant, but it was an unfortunate own goal that added the fourth. Marc Cucurella's initial effort from a flicked-on corner was initially well-saved by Al Owais, but the rebound hit Hassan Al Tambakti and into the back of the net.
La Roja thought they had a fifth in added time as Ferran Torres turned home Fabian Ruiz's cross. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside.
It sends Spain top of Group H ahead of Uruguay's game against Cape Verde at 11pm on Sunday, while Saudi Arabia go bottom.
Your Site' Peter Smith:
Lamine Yamal's electric start to this game lifted Spain's level and put them on course for a commanding performance. He provided the spark that was missing against Cape Verde.
His goal after just 10 minutes was not one of his typical, beautiful works of art. But a back-post poacher finish suggests this is a player primed to add serious goal numbers to his already wonderful creativity and craft. It was his first World Cup goal but it will not be the last.
Yamal has risen to that challenge at club level and he now relishes being the main man for his country. Dribbles, crosses, shots - he flew out of the blocks to deliver all three here. He showed his team-mates the way in Atlanta.
When Yamal hit the net, Spain had already completed 39 passes. No team at this tournament had done that so far. They then became the first country since Germany in 2014 to score three goals inside 25 minutes.
There is quality running right through this Spain squad but on Sunday we saw how a superstar can inspire those around him to reach the levels they need to hit to show off their best.
1: Lamine Yamal is involved within seconds as Abdulelah Al Amri nods away his right-wing cross.
11: GOAL! Yamal scores his first World Cup goal with a poked finish on a tight angle.
21: GOAL! Spain score a scrappy second as Oyarzabal pokes home.
23: GOAL! Two minutes later, Oyarzabal scores again as he turns the ball past the goalkeeper from close range.
36: Oyarzabal pings an effort off the top of the crossbar in pursuit of his hat-trick after a Al Owais error.
49: GOAL! Spain extend their lead to four through Hassan Al Tambakti's own goal.
90+2: GOAL! Torres turns home Spain's fifth, but there is a VAR review for offside.
90+5: NO GOAL! After a lengthy VAR review, Torres' goal is ruled out.
Spain goalscorer Lamine Yamal to DAZN: "That was the plan, to play for a half and get some rest, but above all to help the team. The first game wasn't really us, it was different, but now we've arrived and we're going for more.
"It turned out the way we wanted - being 3-0 up allowed me to rest so it was perfect. Drawing a match that you know you should win stings. It made us think a lot, and it helped us approach this match exactly how we wanted to."
Speaking about his winger, De la Fuente added to DAZN: "Lamine is in perfect condition to take on full matches now.
"And what can we say about Oyarzabal? He'd been dealing with a minor issue - you can't share everything - but he always delivers an exceptional performance.
"Today was an important step for what's to come. Lamine is already in perfect condition, and it's also good to take him off like that, leaving him hungry for more."
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente to DAZN: "We played an exceptional first half and a good second half too. Above all, this allows us to maintain our momentum and face the important games ahead. Uruguay is going to be a difficult and very tough match.
"We'd reviewed it [the Cape Verde game] with the players and we all agreed that we needed more verticality and more intensity. You could see it in our shots - from the very first minute we were suffocating the opponent and pinning them back into their own box. We are very happy with that approach, but we have to keep growing and improving."
Your Site' Ron Walker:
At a rate of almost an own goal every four games, World Cup 2026 has been the most unfortunate for defenders of any finals in the competition's history.
Hassan Al-Tambakti's unwanted addition was the tournament's eighth own goal - already more than any previous edition bar World Cup 2018, with the group stage barely halfway through.
