Portugal 0-1 Spain: Merino 90+1
Now Spain are in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010. Now there is excitement that this squad can achieve what their predecessors did by following up the European championship with becoming world champions. For Portugal, it is another disappointing campaign with unfulfilled expectations, and it almost certainly closes the World Cup, and possibly the entire, chapter of Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable international career.
The contest drifted towards extra time before Mikel Merino delivered the moment that separated the sides, scoring deep into stoppage time as Spain edged Portugal 1-0. After a bit of interplay from Spain in midfield following a quickly taken freekick, Ferran Torres slipped the ball into Merino’s path and the midfielder kept his composure to guide a low finish beyond Diogo Costa to settle the tie.
Ronaldo endured another frustrating evening. This has really not been his tournament, not that anyone but the most hopeless of fanboys could have expected much different. The 41-year-old striker was anaemic against Spain’s organised defence, managing only a handful of attempts without ever seriously threatening Unai Simon.
As the match slipped away, Portugal’s captain cut an isolated figure, unable to produce anything. When the goal had gone in, Ronaldo had complained to his nearest teammate Bernardo Silva, but he was just as ineffective up front as Portugal’s defence was as Merino slipped through the cracks to punish them.
🚀 What a rocket, Mikel.
Perfect timing for San Fermín. ❤️🤍#VamosEspaña | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/HUAwG3Myng— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) July 6, 2026
Spain controlled much of the opening period through the intelligence of Rodri and Dani Olmo, whose movement repeatedly unsettled Portugal’s midfield. Mikel Oyarzabal squandered the clearest early opportunity after breaking clear, dragging his finish wide, before Alex Baena forced Costa into an outstanding save with a curling effort destined for the top corner.
Portugal gradually settled and became more difficult to break down. Nuno Mendes was good enough at left-back, limiting Lamine Yamal’s influence while also posing a threat going forward. His powerful strike shortly before the interval was headed upwards by a Spain defender before crashing against the crossbar. That was Portugal’s best chance in the first half, and as is turned out, for the rest of the game.
Mendes was replaced by Nelson Semedo in the second half after suffering what appeared to be a serious injury, although Spain did not quite exploit the latter’s discomfort as a right-back playing on the wrong flank. Minutes went by and barely anything happened as both sides cancelled each other out, before Merino had his moment.
