{"id":17005,"date":"2026-07-07T07:19:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T01:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?p=17005"},"modified":"2026-07-07T07:19:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T01:49:46","slug":"spain-1-0-portugal-merinos-stoppage-time-strike-sends-spain-through-and-ends-ronaldos-world-cup-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-1-0-portugal-merinos-stoppage-time-strike-sends-spain-through-and-ends-ronaldos-world-cup-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain 1-0 Portugal | Merino&#8217;s Stoppage-Time Strike Sends Spain Through \u2014 and Ends Ronaldo&#8217;s World Cup Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ninety minutes of defensive heroics, a crossbar, two goalkeeper saves that deserved a standing ovation \u2014 and then a substitute combination in the 91st minute that ended it all. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/match-clips\/0-6-4z5974253\/por-vs-esp-quickfire-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2026\/0-1-6z5998564?utm_source=GoogleOneBox&amp;utm_medium=GoogleSearch&amp;utm_campaign=OneBox_quick_fire_highlight\"><strong>Spain beat Portugal 1\u20130 <\/strong><\/a>at the Dallas Stadium in the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Round of 16, with Mikel Merino steering a low first-time finish past Diogo Costa to send them through. Portugal are eliminated. Cristiano Ronaldo has played his final match at a FIFA World Cup.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-black ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-1-0-portugal-merinos-stoppage-time-strike-sends-spain-through-and-ends-ronaldos-world-cup-story\/#Chances_Wasted_Chances_Missed\" title=\"Chances Wasted, Chances Missed\">Chances Wasted, Chances Missed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-1-0-portugal-merinos-stoppage-time-strike-sends-spain-through-and-ends-ronaldos-world-cup-story\/#The_Crossbar_Denies_Portugal_the_Lead\" title=\"The Crossbar Denies Portugal the Lead\">The Crossbar Denies Portugal the Lead<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-1-0-portugal-merinos-stoppage-time-strike-sends-spain-through-and-ends-ronaldos-world-cup-story\/#Merino_Settles_It_in_Stoppage_Time\" title=\"Merino Settles It in Stoppage Time\">Merino Settles It in Stoppage Time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-1-0-portugal-merinos-stoppage-time-strike-sends-spain-through-and-ends-ronaldos-world-cup-story\/#The_End_of_Ronaldos_World_Cup\" title=\"The End of Ronaldo&#8217;s World Cup\">The End of Ronaldo&#8217;s World Cup<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-1-0-portugal-merinos-stoppage-time-strike-sends-spain-through-and-ends-ronaldos-world-cup-story\/#Spain_March_On\" title=\"Spain March On\">Spain March On<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Catch Spain&#8217;s<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\"><i> FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122<\/i><\/a><i> quarter-final live on ZEE 5. Watch every remaining match of the tournament live in India \u2014 the <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/myaccount\/subscription?plan-ref=0-11-7467&amp;asset-ref=0-6-4z5914493&amp;visibility=SELECTED&amp;context=FIFA\"><i>ZEE 5 FIFA Subscription <\/i><\/a><i>Quarterly Plan is available at \u20b9799.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chances_Wasted_Chances_Missed\"><\/span><b>Chances Wasted, Chances Missed<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/spain\/spain-squad\">Spain <\/a>were the better side for large parts of the evening and should have been ahead before half-time. In the 10th minute, a swift one-touch passing sequence from Dani Olmo opened Portugal up beautifully \u2014 Mikel Oyarzabal received the ball in a dangerous position and dragged his shot wide. A chance that should have been taken.<\/p>\n<p>Six minutes later, Spain went close twice in quick succession. Lamine Yamal&#8217;s curling effort forced Diogo Costa into a comfortable gather. The rebound fell to Alex Baena, whose powerful low attempt from the other edge of the box was met by Costa at full stretch. Two saves, back to back. Portugal survived.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Crossbar_Denies_Portugal_the_Lead\"><\/span><b>The Crossbar Denies Portugal the Lead<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Portugal&#8217;s best moment came in the 41st minute. Nuno Mendes drove forward and hit a heavy left-footed shot from the edge of the box. The ball clipped off Pedro Porro as it travelled \u2014 the deflection wrong-footing Unai Sim\u00f3n \u2014 and cannoned back off the crossbar. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/portugal\/portugal-squad\">Portugal <\/a>came within inches of taking a lead they might never have surrendered.<\/p>\n<p>The second half was tighter. Nuno Mendes had to be subbed off at the 54th minute due to an injury. Spain controlled possession, probed for openings, and found Portugal well organised and difficult to break down. Minutes passed. Substitutions were made. Neither side could find the decisive moment. Extra time was approaching.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Merino_Settles_It_in_Stoppage_Time\"><\/span><b>Merino Settles It in Stoppage Time<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Then, in the 91st minute, two Spanish substitutes combined to break Portuguese hearts.<\/p>\n<p>Ferran Torres received the ball in space and threaded a precise pass into the box. Mikel Merino had made the run perfectly. One touch. A low, first-time finish steered into the bottom corner past Costa, who had no chance. Spain 1\u20130 Portugal. AT&amp;T Stadium erupted.<\/p>\n<p>Portugal pushed desperately in the final minutes. In the 90+7th minute, Bernardo Silva connected with a deep cross and got his header away \u2014 but it drifted just onto the roof of the net. The closest Portugal came to surviving. This was their only chance since Mendes had been subbed off.<\/p>\n<p>The final whistle followed moments later.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_End_of_Ronaldos_World_Cup\"><\/span><b>The End of Ronaldo&#8217;s World Cup<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the Dallas Stadium pitch for the last time in a FIFA World Cup. He tested Unai Sim\u00f3n in the first half and was a constant threat, but the goal \u2014 the one that would have written a different ending \u2014 did not come. At 41, this was always likely to be his final tournament. Portugal&#8217;s elimination makes it official.<\/p>\n<p>He leaves the FIFA World Cup with six appearances, one FIFA World Cup hat-trick \u2014 against this very opponent in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spain_March_On\"><\/span><b>Spain March On<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Spain are through to the quarter-finals and will face the winner of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/usa\/usa-squad\">United States<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/belgium\/belgium-squad\">Belgium<\/a> match. Luis de la Fuente&#8217;s side have been composed, dangerous in transition, and increasingly difficult to play against as the tournament has progressed. Oyarzabal missed chances he would ordinarily take, but Merino was there when it mattered. That is the mark of a squad with depth.<\/p>\n<p>The Iberian derby is done for 2026. Spain won it, narrowly. Ronaldo&#8217;s chapter is closed. Spain&#8217;s is still being written.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Spain&#8217;s quarter-final is next. Don&#8217;t miss it \u2014 watch every remaining FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 match live on ZEE 5 in India.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ninety minutes of defensive heroics, a crossbar, two goalkeeper saves that deserved a standing ovation \u2014 and then a substitute combination in the 91st minute that ended it all. Spain beat Portugal 1\u20130 at the Dallas Stadium in the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Round of 16, with Mikel Merino steering a low first-time finish past [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":16961,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3019],"tags":[3031,3511,3481,3367],"class_list":["post-17005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-portugal-vs-spain-match-report","tag-quarter-finals","tag-round-of-16"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1132x400-66.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sourav K","author_link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - 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knocks out Portugal and ends Ronaldo&#039;s World Cup career.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-1-0-portugal-merinos-stoppage-time-strike-sends-spain-through-and-ends-ronaldos-world-cup-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ZEE5 Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ZEE5India\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-07T01:49:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1132x400-66.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1132\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sourav K\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ZEE5India\" \/>\n<meta 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