World Cup 2026: Merino Ends Ronaldo’s Dream As Spain Reach Quarter-Finals
2 min read
By Sedara Philip
Spain booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Mikel Merino’s dramatic stoppage-time winner secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Portugal in a fiercely contested Iberian derby at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The late strike not only sent La Roja into the last eight but also brought Cristiano Ronaldo’s long pursuit of World Cup glory to a heartbreaking conclusion, ending one of football’s greatest international careers without the game’s ultimate prize.
Both sides approached the encounter cautiously, with Spain enjoying more possession while Portugal remained dangerous on the counterattack.
La Roja nearly made the perfect start inside the opening ten minutes when Mikel Oyarzabal found himself clean through on goal, but the forward failed to beat Diogo Costa, who produced an outstanding save to keep Portugal level.
Spain continued to dictate the tempo throughout the first half, forcing Costa into several more impressive saves as Portugal struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.
The Seleção came closest through Nuno Mendes, whose powerful long-range effort took a slight deflection before crashing against the crossbar, leaving Spain relieved to escape without conceding.
The second half remained an intense tactical battle, with both teams cancelling each other out and chances becoming increasingly scarce.
As the match drifted towards extra time, Portugal appeared to have weathered Spain’s pressure and looked set for another 30 minutes.
However, La Roja found the decisive breakthrough when it mattered most.
Deep into stoppage time, substitute Ferran Torres slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of fellow substitute Mikel Merino. The Arsenal midfielder kept his composure and drilled a low finish beyond Diogo Costa to spark wild celebrations among the Spanish players and supporters.
Portugal had no time to mount a response as the final whistle confirmed Spain’s place in the quarter-finals.
The defeat also marked the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey. The Portuguese legend leaves the global stage after an extraordinary international career filled with unforgettable moments, but without the one trophy that always eluded him.
Spain, meanwhile, continue their impressive march through the tournament and will now face Belgium in a blockbuster quarter-final as they chase a second FIFA World Cup title.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
