Spain Defeats Portugal with Last-Minute Goal to Reach Quarterfinals; Ronaldo's 'Last Dance' Ends

Spain secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic last-minute goal in the Round of 16 'Iberian Derby' against Portugal.

Spain won 1-0 against Portugal in the Round of 16 match held at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 7 (KST), thanks to a winning goal by Mikel Merino in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.

Having maintained a clean sheet for five consecutive matches in this tournament, Spain has advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in 16 years since the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Meanwhile, Portugal failed to reach the quarterfinals for the second consecutive tournament.

Portugal's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has concluded his 'last dance' on the World Cup stage in the Round of 16.

The match drew significant attention as a showdown between Portugal's 41-year-old living legend, Ronaldo, and Spain's 19-year-old rising star, Lamine Yamal.

Facing each other in the third 'Iberian Derby' in World Cup history, Spain and Portugal clashed intensely from the beginning of the first half.

The two nations first met in the Round of 16 at the 2010 South Africa World Cup, where Spain won 1-0, and later played to a 3-3 draw in the first match of Group B at the 2018 Russia World Cup.

Portugal's captain, Ronaldo, was particularly in the spotlight as he had scored a hat-trick in their 2018 encounter.

Spain, holding a record of one win and one draw against Portugal, saw a missed opportunity in the 9th minute of the first half when Mikel Oyarzabal, receiving a through pass from Dani Olmo, broke into the left side of the penalty area. His left-footed shot in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper narrowly missed the right side of the goal.

Portugal launched a counterattack in the 12th minute, but a powerful right-footed shot from Cristiano Ronaldo, who surged into the right side of the penalty area, was blocked by the Spanish goalkeeper's punch.

Spain had two decisive scoring chances in the 16th minute of the first half, but both were denied by spectacular saves from Portugal's goalkeeper, Diogo Costa.

A left-footed curling shot from the rising star Yamal, who penetrated the right side of the penalty area, was punched away by a diving Costa. The ball fell to Alex Baena, whose subsequent right-footed curling shot was also tipped away by Costa's fingertips, preventing it from finding the net.

Portugal, having withstood Spain's relentless offensive, also found their rhythm.

In the 37th minute, after a header by Joao Felix from the left side of the goal area was blocked by the goalkeeper, Ronaldo attempted an acrobatic right-footed shot from the left side of the goal area, but it went straight to the goalkeeper.

Portugal's most regrettable moment came in the 41st minute when left-back Nuno Mendes, who had joined the attack following a corner kick, fired a left-footed shot from just outside the right side of the penalty area. The ball deflected off the head of Spanish defender Pedro Porro and hit the crossbar.

Entering the second half scoreless, Portugal faced a setback when left-back Mendes, who had successfully contained Spain's Yamal throughout the first half, felt discomfort and was replaced by Nelson Semedo in the 11th minute of the second half.

Unlike the active first half, both Spain and Portugal played cautiously in the early second half, focused on a game that would likely be decided by a single goal.

Spain had a free-kick opportunity near the right side of the penalty area in the 28th minute of the second half. Yamal took the kick, sending a sharp left-footed shot toward the center of the goal, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper's punch.

Portugal responded in the 31st minute of the second half when a right-footed shot by Bruno Fernandes, who had penetrated the right side of the penalty area, hit the side netting, drawing sighs from the fans.

As the tense match continued and the prospect of extra time grew, Spain's winning goal finally exploded in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. The hero was Mikel Merino, who had been substituted for Olmo in the 40th minute of the second half.

Ferran Torres, who had been subbed in at the 30th minute of the second half, delivered a killer pass from near the center of the penalty arc. Merino surged into the center of the penalty area and scored with a left-footed shot, which became the winning goal.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.