Merino Sends Spain Through, Ends Ronaldo's World Cup

Substitute Mikel Merino scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Spain edged Portugal 1-0 on Monday to reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending what is expected to be Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup campaign.

Merino, introduced in the 85th minute, struck in the opening minute of second-half stoppage time. After winning a free kick, he quickly restarted play, continued his run into the penalty area and calmly slotted Ferran Torres' pass past goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

The victory sends Spain into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2010. La Roja will face either the United States or Belgium in the last eight on Friday in Inglewood, California.

For Portugal, the defeat is likely to mark the end of an era, with 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo expected to have made his final World Cup appearance. The veteran forward, the men's all-time leading international scorer with 146 goals in 233 matches, finished the tournament with three goals.

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón extended his remarkable World Cup shutout streak to 609 consecutive minutes as Spain became the first team to keep six successive clean sheets in World Cup history.

Ronaldo's best chance came in the 37th minute when João Félix's header fell kindly to him inside the box. The Portuguese captain attempted an acrobatic backheel effort, but Simón reacted quickly to make the save.

Portugal pushed for a late equaliser, with Bernardo Silva coming closest when his header drifted just over the crossbar in stoppage time.

The latest meeting between the Iberian rivals was far more tactical than their thrilling 3-3 draw at the 2018 World Cup, where Ronaldo scored a hat-trick. Spain also beat Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 during their successful 2010 World Cup campaign.