Spain’s Late Goal Knocks Out Portugal, Potentially Ending Ronaldo’s World Cup Journey

Substitute Mikel Merino scores in stoppage time to lift Spain to a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the round of 16

Published On 6 Jul 20266 Jul 2026

Mikel Merino netted in the opening minute of second‑half stoppage time, securing a 1‑0 win for Spain over Portugal on Monday and likely concluding Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup tenure.

Following a foul, Merino seized a quick free kick, surged toward the goal and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Diogo Costa after a pass from Ferran Torres.

Spain reaches the quarterfinals for the first time since capturing its sole World Cup trophy in 2010 in South Africa. La Roja will face either the United States or Belgium on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium.

Ronaldo had aimed to lead Portugal to the quarterfinals for a second straight tournament—a feat the nation has never accomplished. Instead, his stint on football’s biggest stage appears to be over for the record holder in international goals (146) and caps (233).

Merino was not introduced as a substitute until the 85th minute, and his alert play highlighted the versatility that helped Arsenal clinch its first Premier League crown in over two decades earlier this month. Injury concerns had cast doubt on his inclusion in Spain’s squad, also affecting his Premier League campaign.

The latest encounter between these Iberian rivals—who first met in a friendly in Madrid 105 years ago—stood in stark contrast to their most recent World Cup showdown.

Eight years prior, Ronaldo recorded his sole World Cup hat-trick in a 3‑3 draw with Spain, a group‑stage opener widely regarded as one of the tournament’s finest matches.

The 41‑year‑old star found the net three times in this competition, yet created few opportunities against Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simón.

La Roja had fashioned superior opportunities, but extra time and a potential penalty shootout seemed imminent until Merino’s late strike.

Spain set a World Cup record with its sixth straight clean sheet, and goalkeeper Unai Simón extended his personal shutout streak to 609 minutes.

Spain surpassed the previous records held by Italy (1990) and Switzerland (2006‑2010) for the most consecutive World Cup matches without conceding a goal. The run commenced with a goalless draw in the 2022 round of 16 against Morocco, which progressed via a penalty shootout.

Additionally, a surprising goalless draw with Cape Verde opened the group stage, followed by four straight shutout wins that propelled Spain into the quarterfinals.

Simón eclipsed the former benchmark of 517 consecutive scoreless minutes during a 3‑0 shutover of Austria to open the knockout phase on Thursday. Italy’s legendary goalkeeper Walter Zenga established the standard in 1990 with five straight clean sheets on home soil.

Simón’s shutout streak began in 2022 in Qatar during a 2‑1 defeat to Japan that concluded group play.

Entering the Portugal match, Simón had recorded just four saves in this World Cup—including none against Austria, which failed to register a shot on target. On Monday in Arlington, he was called upon twice in the first half to deny Ronaldo’s efforts.

The second of those saves was an impressive diving stop, with Simón still airborne after reaching back to secure the ball with both hands.

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