Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career is likely over. Spain sent Portugal home from the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 16 with a 1-0 win that came down to a single moment of chaos in stoppage time.
Mikel Merino, who came off the bench, scored in the first minute of added time. Ferran Torres slipped him the ball inside the box and Merino buried it. Just like that, Portugal was done and Ronaldo was walking off the pitch for the last time in a World Cup. He had already said he was retiring from international tournaments after this one.
The goal was the 29th scored in the 90th minute or later during this World Cup, which doesn’t include anything from extra time. That number is insane. It tells you everything about how these knockout games have gone.
Before the dramatics, the first half was a mess of missed chances. Dani Olmo found Mikel Oyarzabal in the ninth minute but the shot went just wide. Eight minutes later, Diogo Costa had to make two saves in a row to keep it scoreless. He was the reason Portugal was still in it. But then in the 37th minute, Ronaldo had a good look and Unai Simon said no. Simon has been a wall all tournament. That save extended his World Cup record shutout streak, which is now something like 500-something minutes. It’s getting ridiculous.
Portugal had its chances. Ronaldo had another look late in the second half that he probably puts away five years ago. But age is undefeated. And Spain, for all its possession and passing, couldn’t break through until the very end. Then Merino happened.
The loss means Portugal’s golden generation is officially over. Ronaldo, now 41, will go down as one of the best to ever do it. But his World Cup legacy will always have that gap — no title, a few near misses, and now an exit that felt sudden even though we all knew it was coming.
Spain moves on to the quarterfinals. Who they play next is still TBD. But they’ve got a real shot here. They’re young, they’re deep, and they just sent Ronaldo home.
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