Mikel Merino scored a crucial late goal to propel Spain to a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the round of 16 on Monday, marking Spain’s advancement to the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since their triumph in 2010.
As the match seemed destined for extra time in Arlington, Texas, Ferran Torres delivered a decisive through ball that led Merino into the penalty area. He expertly slotted the ball past Diogo Costa to secure the win, overcoming their Iberian rivals.
Merino had just been fouled when he took the quick throw-in, catching Portugal off guard as he sprinted towards the goal, receiving a pass from Torres before firing the shot past Costa.
Spain experienced tense moments near the end, as Portugal nearly equalized on two occasions. Nevertheless, the 2024 European Champions held on to eliminate Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, who announced on Monday that this would be his final World Cup.
“Mikel Merino is a player you can always count on. He was key in our Euro victory,” said coach Luis de la Fuente after the match. “He’s an exceptional player—among the best in his position globally. We’re fortunate to have depth, with substitutes that could start for any other national team. Their daily attitude is what truly matters.”
“I just hope people recognize him fairly. Mikel Merino consistently delivers strong performances, always being where he’s needed.”
Spain is now set to face the winner of the match between Belgium and the United States in the quarterfinals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
“You remember everything—the good and the bad, all that you have back home,” Merino reflected after the match. “This year has been tough for me, but there have also been rewarding moments. With my injury and missing the time to see my newborn grow up, I channel this into giving my best.”
Ronaldo, visibly emotional at the conclusion, aimed to guide Portugal to consecutive quarterfinals for the first time since the 2024 European Championship.
Unfortunately, the legendary striker’s World Cup journey has concluded, ending his time on soccer’s grandest stage as the all-time leader in international goals.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, who had announced his plans to resign after the tournament, stated that the team should feel proud of their performance this summer.
“We can hold our heads high. The players gave everything,” Martinez commented. “I believe this was our strongest performance in the World Cup. Facing a favored team, we held our ground but just lacked the luck to convert our chances.”
Spain recorded their sixth consecutive clean sheet in the World Cup—setting a tournament record—while goalkeeper Unai Simón extended his run of shutouts to 609 minutes.
With this achievement, Spain surpassed records set by Italy in 1990 and Switzerland from 2006 to 2010 for consecutive matches without conceding a goal. Their streak began with a 0-0 draw in the round of 16 in 2022, where Morocco advanced through penalties.
The tournament also witnessed an unexpected scoreless draw against Cape Verde, which kicked off the group stage, followed by four straight shutout victories leading to the quarterfinals.
Simón’s streak surpassed the prior record of 517 consecutive scoreless minutes set during a dominant 3-0 victory over Austria in the knockout stage. The legendary Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga had previously set the record of five straight clean sheets during the 1990 World Cup.
Simón’s clean sheet sequence commenced in 2022 at the Qatar World Cup, following a loss to Japan that concluded group play.
Arriving at the Portugal match, Simón had made only four saves throughout the World Cup—Austria did not register any shots on target—while against Portugal, he was called into action twice in the first half, both times facing shots from Ronaldo.
The second save was particularly noteworthy, showcasing Simón’s agility as he made a spectacular diving stop, reaching back to catch the ball with both hands in mid-air. This impressive play followed a header from teammate José Sá that redirected off the shoulder of the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper.
Information from The Associated Press has been incorporated into this report.