Spain eliminates Portugal as Merino’s late goal seals Ronaldo’s World Cup farewell

Substitute Mikel Merino scored within the first minute of second-half stoppage time to elevate Spain into the World Cup ​quarterfinals with 1-0 victory over Portugal in Monday’s (July 6, 2026) spherical of 16 ‌conflict in Arlington, Texas.

Merino’s purpose six minutes after ​his insertion takes La Roja to their first quarterfinals ⁠since successful their solely World Cup title in 2010.

They’ll subsequent play on July 11 in Inglewood, California, in opposition to the winner of at this time’s second ‌match between the US and Belgium.

Portugal’s loss possible marks the last World Cup appearance for 41-year-old attacker ‌Cristiano Ronaldo, who had three objectives at his ‌record-tying ⁠sixth World Cup.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo appears to be like dejected after Spain’s Mikel Merino scores their first purpose
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Reuters

Not like Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who gained the ⁠2022 event in his fifth look and reached the 2014 remaining, Ronaldo will full his sixth World Cup with out reaching a remaining. Portugal’s finest displaying ​throughout his tenure got here by way of ‌a semifinal run in his 2006 event debut.

Largely uneventful recreation

Merino’s winner, his first purpose of the event after scoring six for Spain in qualifying, got here after what was a largely ‌uneventful second half, and from a seemingly harmless restart ​effectively past the penalty arc.

Fellow substitutes Ferran Torres and Fabian Ruiz mixed by the center to ⁠play Merino into the penalty space alone, the place his low end beat the charging Diogo Costa contained in the left put up.

Dormant for ‌many of the second half, Portugal’s assault lastly confirmed indicators of life in quest of a miracle equalizer. Bernardo Silva got here closest to leveling with a header narrowly over the bar six minutes into the added time.

Spain’s Lamine Yamal, left, and Portugal’s Nélson Semedo battle for the ball through the World Cup spherical of 16 match
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AP

However it will’ve been undeserved, with Portugal scarcely making goalkeeper Unai Simon work. ‌He completed with solely two saves whereas retaining Spain the one ​aspect on this event but to concede.

Spain had the higher begin. Mikel Oyarzabal missed extensive in ⁠the ninth minute after a superb early assault solved Portugal’s offside lure, ⁠and eight minutes later, Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena pressured Costa right into a double save.

Portugal grew into ‌the half. Ronaldo pressured Simon right into a leaping however in the end comfy save within the thirty seventh minute, and 4 ​minutes later, Nuno Mendes’ thunderously struck try deflected off Pedro Porro and onto the crossbar.