Spain secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Portugal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, booking their place in the quarter-finals. The decisive moment came in the closing stages of the match, as Spain vs Portugal ended with a late goal that also brought Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey to an emotional end.
The match, played in Dallas, remained goalless for most of the game before Mikel Merino scored the winning goal in the 90th minute. His late strike proved enough to send Spain into the next round and eliminate Portugal from the tournament.
With the defeat, Portugal’s campaign came to an end, and Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to achieve his lifelong dream of winning the FIFA World Cup. Playing what is expected to be his final World Cup, the veteran forward was seen in tears after the final whistle as the emotional loss marked the end of another World Cup challenge.
Spain will now face either Belgium or the United States in the quarter-finals as they continue their bid for another World Cup title. The team will look to build on its strong defensive performance and late attacking success in the knockout stage.
The thrilling Spain vs Portugal encounter delivered high drama until the final moments, with Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner sending Spain through and ending Portugal’s hopes of lifting the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy.