According to Diario Sport, Olmo will complete his transformation from a substitute to a key player in the 2026 World Cup, and he will be a regular starter in the final against Argentina.
According to Diario Sport, Spain has already won its second star. The World Cup final victory over Argentina crowned this historic generation and left a clear picture: Olmo once again stepped up in crucial moments.
His World Cup journey mirrored his professional career: always built on patience. On June 15th, in Spain's draw against Cape Verde, he only played for a little over ten minutes, falling behind Pedri and Fabian Ruiz in the midfield rotation. At the time, he seemed like just a substitute surprise.
Olmo didn't fight for his place through any flashy plays or controversial incidents. He earned it through solid performances. Every time he came on as a substitute, the team's play became clearer, their ball control more fluid, and their threat in front of the opponent's penalty area remained constant. As the season progressed, he gradually matured, eventually becoming one of the most important players in the national team's tactical system.
This inevitably brings to mind a similar storyline from Euro 2024. He also started as a substitute, eventually becoming a decisive figure after Pedri's injury in the match against Germany. That breakout performance made him one of the core members of the European Championship-winning team.
The difference lies in the fact that his performance at this World Cup carried far more weight—he didn't need his teammates' injuries to pave the way for him; he single-handedly dismantled that barrier. His performance forced the coach to readjust the midfield configuration, ultimately allowing him to overtake the players previously ahead of him in the pecking order.
The decisive evidence came in the final. Olmo started alongside Fabian Ruiz, while Pedri waited for his chance on the bench. Pedri replaced Olmo in the 61st minute, a substitution that confirmed the role reversal between the two throughout the tournament.
His growth is also reflected in the statistics. Olmo played in all eight of Spain's matches in this World Cup, accumulating 497 minutes and providing two crucial assists, one in the group stage against Saudi Arabia and the other in the semi-final against France. These numbers reflect his increasing importance as the tournament progressed, ultimately making him an indispensable member of the championship team.
Beyond the statistics, Olmo gives the impression that he has matured into a player born for the big stage. He consistently delivers his best performances when pressure mounts and the margin for error disappears.
The man who played a supporting role in the opening match against Cape Verde eventually lifted the World Cup trophy as one of the tournament's superstars. Most impressively, this scene was no longer surprising – the same script played out repeatedly, and it could no longer be explained by coincidence.
