Spain eliminates Portugal to end Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career

Spain eliminates Portugal to end Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career

Mikel Merino scored in the first minute of second-half stoppage time on Monday, July 6, 2026, to give Spain a 1-0 victory over Portugal in Arlington, Texas. The result ended the World Cup career of Cristiano Ronaldo, who had previously confirmed this would be his final appearance at a World Cup finals.

The goal came after a foul was called and Merino played the ball back in. Following a pass from Ferran Torres, Merino beat goalkeeper Diogo Costa to propel Spain into the quarterfinals. This victory marks the first time Spain has advanced to the final eight since winning the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa. Between that title and this match, Spain had failed to progress past the Round of 16 and had even crashed out at the group stage in Brazil.

For the 41-year-old Ronaldo, the loss concludes his tenure on soccer’s biggest stage. He departs as the all-time leader in both international appearances (233) and international goals (146). While Ronaldo scored three times during this tournament, he struggled for opportunities against Spain's Unai Simón. Simón extended his World Cup record to 609 minutes without conceding a goal, making Spain the first team to record six straight shutouts at the World Cup.

The match stood in stark contrast to a previous World Cup encounter eight years ago, where Ronaldo recorded his only World Cup hat trick in a 3-3 draw against Spain. On Monday, however, the contest was described by The Mirror as one that will fade quickly from memory.

Spain dominated possession and created the stronger opportunities throughout the game, though they were forced to scrap for the result. Portugal's defense remained resolute for much of the match, denying Dani Olmo and silencing much of the Spanish threat. Portugal's most significant attempt came when Nuno Mendes unleashed a thunderous strike from the edge of the penalty area that deflected off a white shirt and rattled the crossbar.

Critics of the Portuguese performance pointed to a lack of drive and a cautious tactical approach. Reports indicated that Portugal failed to stretch the game in wide areas, opting for passes that were too safe and lacked urgency. This stagnation was attributed partly to the decision by Roberto Martinez to bench Rafael Leao and Goncalo Ramos, both of whom had been factors in a previous victory over Croatia.

The presence of Ronaldo in the starting eleven was also cited as a reason for the stagnant attack. Observations suggested that when Ronaldo received the ball during attacking phases, he often played it backwards, slowing the momentum. At 41, he was described as being past his best, no longer running in behind defenders and instead waiting for the ball or attempting readable solo runs.

Ironically, Portugal only showed urgency after falling behind. In the final minutes following Merino's 91st-minute goal, Portugal began drawing fouls, moved higher up the pitch, and created two decent chances via Bruno Fernandes.

Merino, who did not enter the game until the 85th minute, brought versatility to the match. He had been doubtful for the Spain squad due to injuries that also affected his Premier League season with Arsenal, a team he helped lead to its first Premier League title in more than 20 years this spring.

Spain now advances to play either Belgium or the United States on Friday, July 11, 2026, in Inglewood, California.