The elimination of Portugal from the 2026 World Cup was sealed in Dallas, in front of 70,649 spectators, with a 1-0 defeat against rival Spain, thanks to a late goal from Mikel Merino that propelled the Spaniards into the quarter-finals and put an end to the World Cup dream of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The round of 16 match, marked by a pale performance from the European champions, unfolded without much excitement until the final minutes. Mikel Merino, brought on from the bench, coolly capitalized in stoppage time on a clever assist from Ferran Torres to beat Diogo Costa and secure Spain's progression. In a clash filled with big names, it was the effectiveness of the Spanish substitute that made the difference in one of the few moments of true brilliance in a game that fell short of expectations.
The World Cup is experienced with LEGO.
In addition to eliminating Portugal from the competition, the result triggered a shake-up in the coaching staff: Roberto Martinez has resigned as national team coach. Before the match, Cristiano Ronaldo had already announced that this would be his last World Cup, adding even more drama to the outcome. The Portuguese captain, visibly emotional at the final whistle, bid farewell to the biggest stage in international football without the national team managing to rise to the occasion for a send-off worthy of his legendary career, which has spanned two decades.
O MUNDIAL 2026 VIVE-SE COM A LEGO
Ronaldo was, in fact, the only Portuguese player to force Unai Simon into a save with a shot on target, while Spain excelled with absolute control and defensive solidity. Luis de la Fuente's team became the first in World Cup history to achieve six consecutive games without conceding a goal, keeping their net intact throughout the tournament. The Spaniards thus return to the quarter-finals for the first time since winning the title in 2010, and will face Belgium, who thrashed the USA.
The decisive moments of the match unfolded at a slow pace: just three minutes in, Oyarzabal forced Diogo Costa into the first save; shortly after, he squandered a clear chance. At 11 minutes, Ronaldo fell in the area after a duel with Rodri, but VAR did not intervene. Diogo Costa shone again at 16 minutes, stopping shots from Lamine Yamal and Baena. At 37, Ronaldo nearly scored after an assist from João Félix, but Simon made the save. Nuno Mendes also caused concern with a shot that hit the crossbar, and Bruno Fernandes missed the target at 76 minutes. The final blow came in stoppage time, with a goal from Merino.
Cristiano Ronaldo bids farewell to the competition with an unprecedented record: he scored in all six editions in which he participated, becoming the only player to achieve this. Former England international Chris Sutton, now a commentator, launched harsh criticism at Ronaldo and Roberto Martinez following the elimination. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he stated: “He [Ronaldo] is dragging himself around the pitch like a grandfather, that’s why Portugal is out. Ronaldo does nothing: he did nothing. What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you favor one player so much? Portugal is out because of Roberto Martinez.”
With the Martinez era over and Ronaldo departing from the world stage, Portugal now faces a new cycle, needing reconstruction and deep reflection on the immediate future of the national team. Meanwhile, Spain is preparing to clash with Belgium, buoyed by their defensive consistency and renewed hope of repeating their 2010 achievement.
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