Mikel Merino scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 to book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Iberian derby at the Dallas Stadium looked destined for extra time before substitute Merino found the back of the net in the final minute of normal time, ending Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dream.
The 41-year-old Ronaldo was in tears at the end of the match as another, and probably his final, opportunity to win the elusive crown jewel of a trophy slipped away.
Portugal’s forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Portugal and Spain at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 6, 2026. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)
The fixture was entirely cagey, mostly a listless match, in which Spain was content to control the tempo, with little final-third action from
This post was originally published on this site.
