Spain's Mikel Merino struck in stoppage time to end Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream, securing a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the Round of 16 clash in Dallas. The substitute's late goal sent the European champions into the quarter-finals and ended Portugal's tournament run.
Ronaldo, 41, made his World Cup debut in 2006 and had warned before kickoff that the 2026 tournament would be his final World Cup appearance. The Portugal captain's career on football's biggest stage came to an emotional end as he wept following the final whistle, embraced by teammates while fans applauded his contributions.
Spain controlled much of the match but couldn't break through Portugal's resolute defensive setup until Merino's decisive finish in injury time. "The win sends Luis de la Fuente's side into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since winning the trophy in South Africa in 2010," according to reports.
The Spanish team will face either the United States or Belgium in Los Angeles for a semi-final berth. For Ronaldo, the loss closed the book on a 20-year international career during which he cemented his place among football's elite strikers.
His pursuit of a World Cup title, the one major honour to elude him throughout his storied playing days, remains unfulfilled. The defeat marked a poignant farewell to the global stage for one of the sport's most decorated performers.
