Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals in dramatic fashion after Mikel Merino struck deep into stoppage time on Monday night to secure a 1-0 victory over Iberian rivals Portugal, a result that also brought Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable World Cup career to an end.
European champions Spain will now travel to Los Angeles for Friday’s quarter-final, where they will face either Belgium or the United States after reaching the last eight of the World Cup for the first time since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010. ALSO READ: Clinical Spain march into World Cup last 16 with dominant display against Austria.
The decisive moment arrived in the opening minute of added time at the AT&T Stadium outside Dallas. Moments after winning a free-kick, Merino quickly restarted play before continuing his run into the penalty area.
Fellow substitute Ferran Torres spotted the movement and slipped a perfectly weighted pass into his path, allowing the Arsenal midfielder to calmly drive a precise low finish beyond Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Merino had only entered the match in the 85th minute, but once again proved decisive on the international stage. His late intervention came after an injury-hit club season that had even cast doubt over his inclusion in Spain’s World Cup squad, despite helping Arsenal win their first Premier League title in more than two decades. ALSO READ: Spain top Group H in World Cup with narrow win as Uruguay suffer shock early exit.
The midfielder celebrated by sprinting around the corner flag, recreating the iconic celebration made by his father after scoring for Osasuna in Stuttgart in 1991 – a fitting end to a night that belonged to Spain.
For Portugal, however, it marked the end of an era.
The defeat brought the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s extraordinary World Cup career. Before the match, the 41-year-old had reiterated: ‘This will be my last World Cup,’ ending a tournament in which he scored three goals and further enhanced a remarkable international record that includes becoming the first man to score in six different World Cups.
He finishes his World Cup career with 11 goals in 27 appearances, while remaining international football’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Ronaldo had hoped to guide Portugal to successive World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, but Spain’s disciplined defence largely kept him quiet. His best opportunities amounted to a powerful effort comfortably held by goalkeeper Unai Simón and a close-range flick after Simón had parried a João Félix header, while the veteran forward also endured a frustrating evening of appeals to the referee and visible displays of disappointment.
The latest meeting between the long-standing Iberian rivals, who first met in Madrid 105 years ago, proved a stark contrast to their memorable 3-3 World Cup draw eight years earlier, when Ronaldo produced the only World Cup hat-trick of his career in one of the tournament’s greatest group-stage encounters.
Although the match lacked goals for long periods, it remained finely balanced throughout.
Spain made the brighter start and almost took the lead when Dani Olmo released Mikel Oyarzabal clean through on goal, only for the forward to pull his finish wide. Diogo Costa then produced an outstanding fingertip save to push Álex Baena’s curling effort around the post.
Portugal gradually settled and came closest before half-time when Nuno Mendes surged forward and saw his powerful strike take a slight deflection off Pedro Porro before crashing against the crossbar. The Paris Saint-Germain full-back had also impressed defensively, limiting the influence of teenage star Lamine Yamal for much of the contest. ALSO READ: Teenage star Yamal inspires Spain’s four-goal response to early World Cup stumble.
Spain’s midfield, orchestrated by Rodri, increasingly controlled possession and dictated the rhythm of the game, repeatedly forcing Portugal into errors in their own half. Dani Olmo continually found dangerous pockets of space, although Spain struggled to convert their territorial dominance into clear-cut chances. ALSO READ: Cape Verde frustrate European champions Spain in historic World Cup opener.
The second half became increasingly cautious as both sides recognised the significance of a single mistake. Portugal’s task became harder when Mendes suffered what appeared to be a serious injury while blocking a Yamal effort, forcing him to leave the field and be replaced by Nélson Semedo.
With extra time looming, it was Spain’s substitutes who made the difference. Torres’ intelligent through-ball found Merino, whose composed finish finally broke the deadlock and sent the Spanish players and supporters into celebration.
The victory also extended an extraordinary defensive record for Luis de la Fuente’s side. Simón has now gone 609 consecutive World Cup minutes without conceding a goal, while Spain became the first nation ever to record six successive World Cup clean sheets.
For Spain, the dream of a second world title remains alive. For Ronaldo, one of football’s greatest careers on the sport’s biggest stage came to its final conclusion. ALSO READ: Goldman Sachs model tips Spain to win 2026 World Cup ahead of France and Argentina.
Enjoying the news from Spain in English? Add us as a preferred news source in Google.
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
A late winner to secure a spot in the quarter-finals! 🇪🇸#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 6, 2026
🏁 ¡¡𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗡 𝗗𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗦!
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 6, 2026
Estamos en los 𝗖𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗦 𝗗𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 de la #CopaMundialFIFA.
¿Celebramos, no? ¡¡𝗩𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗦!!
🇵🇹 🆚 🇪🇸 | 0-1 | 90+7’#VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/THMLQXmbbl
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.