When two of Europe’s footballing heavyweights met in Dallas, few expected the contest to be decided with virtually the final kick of the match. Yet Mikel Merino produced precisely that moment, scoring in the first minute of stoppage time to fire Spain into the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Portugal.
For 90 minutes, the Iberian rivals cancelled each other out in a fiercely contested tactical battle where every inch of space was fiercely protected.
Spain entered the contest determined to control possession through Rodri, Pedri and Dani Olmo, while Portugal looked to the creativity of Bruno Fernandes and the experience of Cristiano Ronaldo to unlock the Spanish defence.
The first half belonged marginally to Luis de la Fuente’s men. Spain finished the opening 45 minutes with eight shots compared to Portugal’s five, putting three efforts on target while also creating the clearer goalscoring opportunities. Portugal remained dangerous on the counterattack but struggled to sustain prolonged pressure against Spain’s disciplined defensive structure.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal continually threatened to break the deadlock with his direct running. One dazzling burst forward forced Nuno Mendes into an awkward recovery challenge, an incident that ultimately contributed to the Portuguese full-back leaving the field through injury during the second half.
Despite Portugal enjoying improved spells after the break, clear chances remained scarce. Cristiano Ronaldo battled tirelessly up front in what could potentially be the final World Cup match of his extraordinary international career, but Spain’s defence, marshalled by Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte, rarely allowed the veteran striker a clear sight of goal.
With the match drifting toward extra time, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente’s substitutions proved decisive. Ferran Torres and Mikel Merino combined brilliantly in the 91st minute. Torres threaded a perfectly weighted pass behind Portugal’s back line, allowing Merino to surge into the penalty area before calmly beating Diogo Costa to seal one of the most dramatic victories of the tournament.
The late winner rewarded Spain’s persistence after a disciplined display that once again highlighted the balance between their technical quality and defensive resilience.
The victory extends Spain’s impressive tournament run and keeps alive their dream of adding another World Cup title to their rich footballing history. Awaiting them in the quarter-finals will be either the United States or Belgium, with confidence growing inside the Spanish camp after successive knockout victories.
For Portugal, however, the defeat will sting for some time.
A squad filled with elite talent exits the World Cup without finding the attacking fluency many expected, while fresh questions are likely to surround Roberto Martínez’s tactical decisions after another major tournament ended in disappointment. Meanwhile, uncertainty also surrounds Ronaldo’s international future as speculation continues over whether the legendary forward has played his final match on football’s biggest stage.
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