Spain advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals after a late goal from substitute Mikel Merino secured a tense 1-0 win against Portugal in the Round of 16. The dramatic finish in the 91st minute brought an end to Portugal's campaign and marked Cristiano Ronaldo's final appearance in a World Cup tournament.
The match, held on Monday, seemed destined for extra time until Spain's decisive breakthrough. Ferran Torres initiated the play, passing to Rodri, who then threaded a ball to Merino. The midfielder, timing his run perfectly to stay onside, finished with a first-time shot past goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
"Mikel Merino never lets you down," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente commented after the victory. "He won us the Euros. He's a huge player; he's one of the best in the world in his position. We're lucky to have players on the bench who would be starters in any other national team."
Spain is now set to face either the United States or Belgium in the quarterfinals, scheduled for Friday in Los Angeles.
A Tense, Watchful Contest
The encounter was a tight affair with few clear-cut opportunities for either side for extended periods. Early in the game, Mikel Oyarzabal missed a chance for Spain, while Portugal's star, Cristiano Ronaldo, was denied twice in the first half by Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simón. Diogo Costa also made a crucial fingertip save to thwart Álex Baena. Nuno Mendes for Portugal struck the crossbar in the 41st minute before being forced off due to injury after the hour mark.
From Oyarzabal's early miss until Merino's winner, neither team managed to generate a shot with an expected goals value exceeding 0.2, highlighting the defensive solidity and cautious approach from both teams. The game's flow suggested extra time was inevitable before Spain capitalized on a quick restart following a foul, leading to Merino's composed finish.
Ronaldo's World Cup Farewell
Cristiano Ronaldo had previously announced that this tournament would be his last World Cup. His final match, however, offered little in the way of a celebratory send-off. The Portuguese captain managed only 19 touches throughout the 90 minutes – 12 in the first half and a mere seven after the break, with none after the 80th minute. This was his fewest touches ever in the opening half of a World Cup fixture.
He attempted three shots, with his closest effort coming in the 37th minute when Simón blocked a João Félix shot and then made a diving save to deny Ronaldo's rebound. Portugal collectively generated just 0.58 expected goals from 10 attempts during the entire match.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez opted to keep striker Gonçalo Ramos on the bench despite his match-winning performance against Croatia. Martinez explained his decision, stating, "When you're a team and you need a goal, you can't take Cristiano Ronaldo off. He's a presence, he opens space, a dead-ball situation, anything in the box, it would make no sense."
Portugal's elimination came with a disappointing record of only two goals scored in Ronaldo's 351 minutes of play against teams that reached the knockout rounds.
Spain's Unblemished Defense
Spain's victory also marked their fifth clean sheet in five matches at this World Cup. The defensive unit, spearheaded by goalkeeper Unai Simón and center backs Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte, has yet to concede a single goal in the tournament. This impressive defensive record, maintaining a goal differential surpassed only by France among the remaining contenders, sees Spain advance to the last eight with their perfect defensive streak intact.