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Everything started in Scotland and this impressive streak continues. That fateful evening at Hampden marked only Luis de la Fuente's second as Spain's manager; numerous observers thought it could prove to be his last assignment. Despite two Scott McTominay goals overcoming La Furia Roja, while virtually everyone expected his tenure would be brief, De la Fuente talked about a route emerging - and remarkably, the man once accused of being unrealistic turned out right.

Three years and four days, Spain advanced extremely close of global football participation, while simultaneously achieving their 29th straight official game without defeat, matching the historic record.

Midfield Masterclass and Merino's Impact

On a night when Pedri featured and Mikel Merino made the decisive impact, Spain overcame Bulgaria 4-0 to accumulate 12 points from 12 in World Cup qualification, nearing advancement. The Gunners' midfielder and sometime forward netted the opening two goals and might have secured his second three-goal haul in three Spain appearances but when fouled in the closing minute, he selflessly passed the penalty to Mikel Oyarzabal instead.

Therefore it was the Real Sociedad striker, scorer of the decisive goal in the Euro 2024 final, who maintained the impressive sequence, matching what Vicente del Bosque's legendary squad achieved between 2010 and 2013.

Record Equaled

Now, readers may have observed the asterisk, and correctly so. Although FIFA might not classify it as a defeat, during this impressive run Spain did suffer defeat once – seven-five on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League decider back in June. However officially at least, this present team has matched that legendary team against which all Spanish national teams are compared.

Victory in Georgia in a month and the record will be exclusively theirs. En route they captured the Nations League in 2023, the European Championships in 2024 and advanced to a Nations League final in 2025; they head toward 2026 ranked No. 1, among the favorites once more, reminiscent of old times.

Complete Domination

The match represented "only" against Bulgaria, it is true, similar to previous encounters against Georgia, Bulgaria, and Turkey but that's four wins from four outings, aggregate score fifteen-zero. There were two moments immediately after the Spanish team obtained their opening goals – the third strike being an self-inflicted – but eventually their opponents had not been allowed a solitary shot on target.

Overall statistics read: thirty-three to three, Spain clearly playing as Spain. Bulgaria's coach had confessed the only objective his team could have was to hold out as long as possible. As it turned out, that defensive effort lasted 33 minutes, and Merino's header constituted Spain's eighteenth attempt on target by that point.

Midfield Brilliance

The display was about all of them, but at the core of it was Pedri, everywhere and nowhere at once: present for Spain, absent for Bulgaria, incapable to track him as he darted through their lines. He completed one hundred and one passes by the time he was withdrawn to a rapturous applause on the sixty-sixth minute, and his were the instances of utmost subtlety, the most exquisite touches and the most incisive too.

When the Valladolid stadium sang his name midway the first half, he had just drifted unmarked into the penalty box again, chipping his shot over Svetoslav Vutsov and onto the woodwork, but it was not only that. He had already floated a gorgeous pass into Álex Baena to volley wide and pulled another back from which Baena was blocked.

Continued Pressure

A disguised pass had created opportunity for Samu Aghehowa up for what ought to have been the first goal, and a precise pass saw Oyarzabal mishit his attempt. He got a chance of his own only to be unable to find a proper connection, striking wide.

But then, almost immediately after, he floated another ball in. This time Robin Le Normand nodded across and Merino directed in. Spain, who had eighty-eight percent of the ball, now had the lead. The heat map appeared like they had run out of spray paint half way through and a little later Aghehowa might have made it two.

Momentary Threat

But then in part it's the unpredictability, even the unfairness, that makes football special. And the first time Bulgaria advanced into Spain's half they could have leveled the score, Kiril Despodov suddenly sprinting away and hitting the side-netting.

Introduced for Aghehowa at the break, Borja Iglesias had three chances in as many minutes before Merino did it once more. The delivery from the left flank was superb from Álex Grimaldo and there, leaping above everyone, was Merino to power the header down and dash off to celebrate round the corner flag.

Final Moments

As they had after the first goal, Bulgaria survived again, Despodov played through and putting his and their following shot wide and yet the first time the visitors had a shot on target it was at the wrong end, Atanas Chernev turning into his team's goal. Yet it was not quite finished, Merino fouled in the legs and allowing to let Oyarzabal smash in the 99th goal of De la Fuente's continuing tenure.