Spain’s Mikel Merino (6) celebrates scoring his facet’s opening objective with Fabian Ruiz (8) throughout the World Cup spherical of 16 match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, close to Dallas, on July 6, 2026
| Picture Credit score: AP
Substitute Mikel Merino scored within the first minute of second-half stoppage time to carry Spain into the World Cup quarterfinals with 1-0 victory over Portugal in Monday’s (July 6, 2026) spherical of 16 conflict in Arlington, Texas.
Merino’s objective six minutes after his insertion takes La Roja to their first quarterfinals since successful their solely World Cup title in 2010.
They’ll subsequent play on July 11 in Inglewood, California, towards the winner of in the present day’s second match between the US and Belgium.
Portugal’s loss doubtless marks the last World Cup appearance for 41-year-old attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, who had three targets at his record-tying sixth World Cup.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo appears to be like dejected after Spain’s Mikel Merino scores their first objective
| Picture Credit score:
Reuters
In contrast to Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who received the 2022 event in his fifth look and reached the 2014 remaining, Ronaldo will full his sixth World Cup with out reaching a remaining. Portugal’s greatest exhibiting throughout his tenure got here by way of a semifinal run in his 2006 event debut.
Largely uneventful recreation
Merino’s winner, his first objective of the event after scoring six for Spain in qualifying, got here after what was a largely uneventful second half, and from a seemingly harmless restart properly past the penalty arc.
Fellow substitutes Ferran Torres and Fabian Ruiz mixed by means of the center to play Merino into the penalty space alone, the place his low end beat the charging Diogo Costa contained in the left put up.
Dormant for a lot of the second half, Portugal’s assault lastly confirmed indicators of life in the hunt for a miracle equalizer. Bernardo Silva got here closest to leveling with a header narrowly over the bar six minutes into the added time.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal, left, and Portugal’s Nélson Semedo battle for the ball throughout the World Cup spherical of 16 match
| Picture Credit score:
AP
However it will’ve been undeserved, with Portugal scarcely making goalkeeper Unai Simon work. He completed with solely two saves whereas conserving Spain the one facet on this event but to concede.
Spain had the higher begin. Mikel Oyarzabal missed vast in the ninth minute after a wonderful early assault solved Portugal’s offside entice, and eight minutes later, Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena compelled Costa right into a double save.
Portugal grew into the half. Ronaldo compelled Simon right into a leaping however finally comfy save within the thirty seventh minute, and 4 minutes later, Nuno Mendes’ thunderously struck try deflected off Pedro Porro and onto the crossbar.
Printed – July 07, 2026 03:15 am IST
