Mikel Merino faced the prospect of missing Spain's World Cup campaign after a stress fracture in his foot forced surgery in January. He spent two months recovering on crutches with support from his pregnant wife, gradually rebuilding his strength through intensive rehabilitation. Though he managed minimal playing time in the months before the tournament, he returned to compete, viewing his presence in the squad as a personal triumph given the severity of his injury and the life milestones occurring simultaneously, including the birth of his first son.

As a substitute, Merino has provided significant impact for Spain throughout their campaign, similar to Argentina's role with Martínez. Reflecting on his year—which included a Premier League title and Champions League final—he emphasises appreciating each moment and prioritises being a good person over purely athletic success. He credits coach Luis de la Fuente with fostering a team culture grounded in mutual respect and normalising the World Cup final as simply another match to enjoy, allowing players to approach the competition with focus rather than paralysing pressure.