DALLAS: In a tense and close game that looked destined for extra time, Spain edged past Portugal 1-0 on Monday to book their spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The fiery match also marked a sad farewell for football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, whose legendary World Cup career ended in tears.
For most of the night at Dallas Stadium, neither team could break the deadlock. Both sides played very carefully, and defenses were tight. However, the game changed completely in the 91st minute due to a quick piece of thinking by Spanish substitute Mikel Merino.
After a foul, the Portuguese defenders stood still to complain to the referee. Seeing the defense look away, Merino quickly took the free kick himself, ran deep into the penalty box, and slotted home a perfect return pass from Ferran Torres. The quick masterstroke completely fooled the goalkeeper and broke the hearts of Portuguese fans.
Spain’s defense was a total wall during the match, keeping a tight eye on the 41-year-old Ronaldo and stopping any dangerous moves. With this victory, Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón set a magnificent new record by reaching 609 minutes without letting in a single goal, making Spain the first team in history to keep six straight clean sheets at a World Cup.
While Spain now moves on to California for their quarterfinal match, Portugal’s tournament has come to a bitter end.
