Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino has revealed how his eight-months-pregnant wife helped him during recovery from a stress fracture in his right foot.
Merino, 30, from Pamplona, ignored foot pain on January 25 and kept playing. He underwent surgery in early February for a stress fracture of a foot bone, a rare injury in sports.
The Arsenal player has featured in minutes across all Spain matches, including pre-tournament friendlies and the first two of the 2026 World Cup. Coach Luis de la Fuente encouraged him throughout recovery.
Merino credited his wife for his presence at the tournament. "Without my wife I would not be here. It has been incredible to see her, eight months pregnant, helping me up the stairs," he said.
