Spain Beat Portugal As Merino's Late Winner Ends Ronaldo's World Cup Hopes

Mikel Merino came from the bench to score a 91st-minute winner, sending Spain past Portugal 1-0 and into the World Cup quarter-finals in Dallas. The late strike confirmed a last-eight meeting with the United States or Belgium and ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup dream with Portugal.

The deciding goal arrived only six minutes after Merino replaced Dani Olmo. Fellow substitute Ferran Torres controlled a pass from Rodri, slipped Merino through, and the Arsenal midfielder finished calmly past Diogo Costa into the bottom-left corner. Spain’s substitutes shifted the contest and condemned Portugal to another early knockout exit.

Spain threatened first after eight minutes when Mikel Oyarzabal timed a run behind Portugal’s backline. Oyarzabal collected Olmo’s accurate through ball but dragged a left-footed shot well wide. La Roja kept pressing, yet Costa denied Lamine Yamal’s curling effort, then reacted sharply to push Alex Baena’s follow-up behind for a corner.

Portugal then produced a strong spell before the interval. Ronaldo met a Joao Felix cross with an instinctive volley, which Unai Simon blocked. From a short-corner routine, Nuno Mendes struck a fierce drive that took a deflection off Pedro Porro’s head and crashed against the crossbar, leaving Spain’s defence briefly exposed.

The second half developed at a slower tempo until an injury to Mendes on 56 minutes. Mendes had largely contained Yamal but had to leave the pitch, bringing Nelson Semedo into the game. Yamal soon escaped Semedo’s marking, allowing Baena to draw another save from Costa before Yamal’s free-kick was tipped over.

Bruno Fernandes then fired into the side-netting as both teams struggled to create clear chances. Extra time seemed likely, with defences relatively secure, before Spain’s substitutions changed everything. Torres turned on Rodri’s pass and released Merino, who delayed the shot, picked his spot, and beat Costa low to decide the knockout tie.

Spain’s defensive record at this World Cup remained strong throughout the contest. Ronaldo’s 12th-minute attempt was the first shot on target Luis de la Fuente’s team faced in any first half during the tournament. Spain then became the first side in World Cup history to keep six straight clean sheets, limiting Portugal effectively after half-time.

Portugal failed to register a single shot on target after the break, and two of their five second-half attempts came during stoppage time. Portugal finished with an expected goals value of 0.6 from 10 shots, compared with Spain’s 1.77 from 15 efforts, highlighting Spain’s greater attacking threat and control.

Merino’s goal was only Spain’s second recorded World Cup winner scored in the 90th minute or later. The previous instance came from Peiro against Mexico in 1962. It was also Spain’s third World Cup goal where both scorer and provider were substitutes, after similar combinations versus Yugoslavia in 1982 and Australia in 2014.

World Cup quarter-finals Spain vs Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo record

Before kick-off, Ronaldo confirmed this tournament would be the final World Cup of Ronaldo’s Portugal career, though Ronaldo stressed there would be no immediate retirement from club football. The defeat in North America means Ronaldo again misses the trophy that eluded Ronaldo throughout an extended international career.

Across six World Cup appearances, Ronaldo has provided sustained output and several records. Ronaldo is the second player to start 25 World Cup matches, behind Lionel Messi’s 27. During those tournaments, Ronaldo scored 11 goals and contributed two assists, yet Portugal’s best finish with Ronaldo in the squad remained fourth place.

Portugal were aiming to reach consecutive World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. That target disappeared because of two effective changes from Luis de la Fuente, with Torres and Merino combining for the decisive moment. Merino’s introduction was notable, as Olmo had impressed, yet the decision produced Spain’s match-winning contribution.

Spain now prepare for a quarter-final against either the United States or Belgium, boosted by another clean sheet and trust in impactful substitutes. Portugal leave the tournament short of a historic achievement, while Ronaldo’s final World Cup campaign ends with individual records intact but without the trophy Ronaldo targeted.