Late Spain strike ends Ronaldo's World Cup career
Substitute Mikel Merino scored in stoppage-time as Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, sending his side into the quarter-finals while ending Cristiano Ronaldo's FIFA World Cup career for Portugal.
The midfielder scored six minutes after coming off the bench to take the European champion into the last eight, prevailing where his team-mates had been frustrated throughout by a determined and resilient Portugal backline.
A crestfallen Ronaldo left the field to cheers from the sold-out crowd at Dallas Stadium as Portugal exited the tournament a day after the former Real Madrid forward had confirmed the tournament would be his last FIFA World Cup.
Spain progressed after both teams had shown their attacking intent early, with Mikel Oyarzabal testing Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa from distance and Portugal's Joao Cancelo lashing a rising shot over the crossbar.
Oyarzabal should have put Spain ahead after eight minutes when a slick move sliced through the Portugal midfield with Dani Olmo's incisive first-time pass releasing the Real Sociedad man, who dragged his shot wide of Costa's left post.
Bruno Fernandes then dispossessed Pedri to set up Ronaldo soon after, but Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon blocked the effort with ease.
Costa was then called on to make two saves in quick succession, denying Lamine Yamal from the right and, more spectacularly, Alex Baena's follow-up with a full-stretch, fingertip save.
Simon blocked Joao Felix's header before pushing away Ronaldo's volleyed effort on the rebound, while Nuno Mendes went closest of all with a shot that was redirected on to the crossbar by Pedro Porro's header as Portugal finished the half on top.
Roberto Martinez's side was reduced to playing on the counter-attack after the interval, with Spain dominating possession through Rodri and the increasingly influential Pedri, who saw an attempt steered wide by Renato Veiga's desperate lunge.
Lamine's free-kick was tipped over the bar by Costa while Portugal midfielder Vitinha's strike was deflected into the path of Bruno Fernandes, but he shot into the side-netting.
Portugal's defence frustrated its neighbour throughout the second half but the introduction of Merino for Olmo with five minutes of regulation time remaining proved pivotal.
The quick-thinking midfielder took the free-kick that resulted in Ferran Torres feeding the ball back into his path and Merino slotted the ball into the bottom corner of Costa's goal.
Bernardo Silva almost equalised in the 97th minute when he rose above Rodri but his header narrowly cleared the bar as Spain advanced to face either United States or Belgium in the quarter-finals at the weekend.
