Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal became the first player on record to go 30 minutes in a FIFA World Cup match without touching the ball during his team’s goalless draw against Cape Verde, according to Opta statistics.
Oyarzabal, who started up front for Spain, failed to register a single touch in the opening half hour of the Group H encounter before finally making contact with the ball in the 31st minute.
The statistic, which Opta tracks back to 1966, marked an unwanted World Cup record for the Spanish international despite his team dominating possession for long periods of the match.
The game which ended 0-0, left Spain and Cape Verde on 3rd and 4th places respectively with a point apiece in their opening Group H fixture.
The Spanish next face Saudi Arabia on Sunday, June 21.