Gavi announced himself on the world stage with a stunning volley as Spain produced a brilliant passing performance to see off Costa Rica and start the World Cup in sensational fashion.
Ferran Torres scored twice in what was a start-to-finish stroll for the 2010 champions.
But the pick of his seven goals was Gavi’s superb volley finish, the Barcelona youngster using the outside of his foot to head a falling ball past the post and become the youngest World Cup goalscorer since Pele. became
It has been a tournament full of surprises, with Spain’s Group E rivals Germany the latest victim with their late defeat by Japan on Wednesday, but there was never any sign of another shock here.
La Roja were completely dominant from the start, with Costa Rica unable to keep up with their pace, movement and accuracy when they came forward.
The Euro 2020 semi-finalists went close twice in the first 10 minutes, Dani Olmo and Marco Asensio both firing wide, but they did not have to wait long to take the lead.
Olmo had work to do when he met Gavi’s delicate chipped pass in the area, but he used his strength to hold off Oscar Duarte and then expertly burst into space to slot past Keylor Navas. went.
It was an inauspicious start for Costa Rica and things quickly went from bad to worse for the 2014 quarter-finalists, the last team to qualify for Qatar.
Spain once again went forward unopposed in the middle of the pitch, before the ball was released to Jordi Alba and his cross was powerfully met by Asensio – although Navas had to save his effort. Should have done better.
Victory was sealed just after the half-hour mark, when Torres sent Navas the wrong way from the spot after Duarte had hacked down Alba in the box.
But there was more misery for Costa Rica after the break, with Spain still hungry for goals.
Torres took advantage of more weak defending to make it 4-0, collecting a loose ball after bursting into the box and then calmly firing home.
Gavi’s stunning strike added sparkle to an already scintillating display, with the 18-year-old matching his sublime performance after meeting substitute Alvaro Morata’s cross.
Another substitute, Carlos Soler, made it six after Navas failed to deal with a cross, and Morata rounded off the score in injury time after a one-two with Olmo.
