Spain stun Portugal, ending Ronaldo’s FIFA World Cup 2026 journey
Merino strikes in stoppage time to seal last-8 place
DALLAS – Spain produced a dramatic late victory to knock Portugal out of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring deep into stoppage time to secure a 1-0 Round of 16 win at Dallas Stadium on Monday.
The narrow victory sent the European champions into the quarter-finals for the first time since lifting the World Cup in 2010, while bringing the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable career on football’s biggest stage.
Merino found the decisive goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, ensuring Spain progressed to the last eight without conceding a single goal in the tournament. They will now face the winner of the Round of 16 clash between the United States and Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday.
Late drama
For long periods, the contest failed to match the expectations surrounding one of the standout fixtures of the knockout stage. Both sides entered the match unbeaten, but clear-cut opportunities were limited as disciplined defending dominated proceedings.
Spain created the first major chance inside the opening 10 minutes when Dani Olmo released Mikel Oyarzabal behind the Portuguese defence. However, with only goalkeeper Diogo Costa to beat, Oyarzabal dragged his effort wide.
Portugal captain Ronaldo responded with an attempt from a tight angle that forced Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón into a save, while Costa was called into action at the other end to deny both Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena with impressive stops.
Last-minute Merino ⏱️#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/SjAzdZSuxv
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 6, 2026
Extra time appeared inevitable before Merino settled the contest in dramatic fashion. Moments after being brought down in midfield and winning a foul, the Arsenal midfielder restarted play quickly, continued his run into the penalty area and collected Ferran Torres’ perfectly weighted pass before calmly finishing beyond Costa.
The goal, timed at 90+1 minutes, proved enough to send Spain through to the quarter-finals.
Ronaldo's farewell
The defeat marked the end of Ronaldo’s World Cup career after the 41-year-old had confirmed before the match that the 2026 tournament would be his final appearance at football’s biggest event.
Portugal had hoped to reach back-to-back World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history, but instead saw their campaign come to an abrupt halt.
The all-time leading scorer in international football endured a frustrating evening, operating as Portugal’s central striker but finding limited space against Spain’s organised defence. The veteran forward was both cheered and jeered by sections of the crowd throughout the match, reflecting his enduring profile after years spent starring in Spanish football with Real Madrid.
Portugal came closest to breaking the deadlock late in the first half when Pedro Porro inadvertently headed Nuno Mendes’ powerful effort onto his own crossbar. Mendes, one of Portugal’s brightest performers, was later forced off injured after 56 minutes in another setback for Roberto Martínez’s side.
Martínez introduced fresh legs with attacking substitutions in the closing stages but kept faith with Ronaldo, hoping the captain could produce one final decisive moment. Instead, Spain struck at the death.
Before kick-off, both teams observed a sombre tribute as an image of late Portugal forward Diogo Jota was displayed on the stadium’s giant screen.
Spain march on
Spain’s victory underlined the defensive solidity that has defined their World Cup campaign. Despite facing one of Europe’s strongest attacking sides, Luis de la Fuente’s team maintained their perfect defensive record and remain the only side yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
The result also represents Spain’s best World Cup performance since their title-winning campaign in South Africa 16 years ago. With a balanced blend of experienced internationals and emerging talents such as 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, the European champions continue to strengthen their credentials as one of the favourites for the trophy.
The meeting had been billed as a symbolic passing of the torch between Ronaldo, playing in his final World Cup, and teenage sensation Yamal, whose rapid rise has made him one of the tournament’s brightest young stars. While neither found the scoresheet, Merino emerged as the decisive figure, delivering the late breakthrough that kept Spain’s title hopes alive and ended one of football’s greatest international careers.