Spain 1–0 Portugal: Mikel Merino's 91st-Minute Strike Sends La Roja to Quarterfinals and Ends Ronaldo's World Cup Dream

Mikel Merino scored a 91st-minute winner as Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in a tense 2026 World Cup round-of-16 clash at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, July 6 . The goal not only sent the reigning European champions to their first World Cup quarterfinal since 2010 but also brought an emotional end to Cristiano Ronaldo's five-tournament World Cup career .

The Decisive Moment

With the match locked at 0-0 deep into second-half injury time, Ferran Torres delivered a cross into the Portuguese box and Mikel Merino rose to meet it, slotting home in the 90'+1 minute (the 91st minute) to break the deadlock . The goal came after a cagey, tightly contested Iberian derby in which neither side had been able to find a breakthrough .

Match Summary

• Final score: Spain 1–0 Portugal
• Scorer: Mikel Merino (90'+1), assisted by Ferran Torres
• Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (part of the Dallas metro area)
• Capacity: 70,649
• Broadcast: Fox (U.S.) with Ian Darke and Landon Donovan on the call

Portugal's Missed Chances

Portugal managed only two shots on target across the entire 90 minutes . The best chance fell to Ronaldo himself, who produced a cheeky flicked effort that drew an acrobatic save from Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon . Despite having several promising spells of possession, the Portuguese attack could not break through Spain's defense, which had not conceded a goal in the tournament up to that point .

The End of an Era: Ronaldo's Final World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41 years old, played the full match but was largely peripheral, recording only three shots and 19 touches . He had confirmed before the tournament that this would be his fifth and final World Cup . The stoppage-time defeat brought an abrupt end to a five-tournament World Cup career that began in 2006 and included the famous 3-3 group-stage draw with Spain in 2018 in which Ronaldo scored a hat-trick . At full time, Ronaldo appeared emotional, shaking hands with Spanish players before leaving the pitch in tears .

What It Means for Spain

For Spain, the victory is a significant milestone. As reigning European champions and FIFA's second-ranked team, La Roja had not reached a World Cup quarterfinal since winning the tournament in 2010 . They advanced to the round of 16 by blanking Austria 3-0 in the previous round at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California .

What Comes Next

Spain will face the winner of the United States vs. Belgium round-of-16 match in the quarterfinals on Friday, July 10, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California . The winner of that quarterfinal would advance to the semifinals at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey .