Cristiano Ronaldo plays final World Cup match as Spain advances to quarterfinals

Spain secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Portugal in a tense Iberian derby, booking their place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. The defeat signaled the end of an era for Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who played his last World Cup match, leaving the field in tears.

This was the third World Cup encounter between the two nations, with Spain having won 1-0 in 2010 en route to their title and a 3-3 draw in 2018. The match was a closely fought affair, with chances created by both sides throughout the game. Early opportunities fell to Spain's Oyarzabal and Cancelo for Portugal, while Ronaldo tested Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa made several crucial saves to deny Spain, including stops from Yamal and Alex Baena. Nuno Mendes' shot for Portugal struck the Spanish crossbar just before halftime. After the break, the game remained cautious, with both Ronaldo and Alex Baena attempting shots that did not trouble the goalkeepers.

The decisive moment came in the 90+1 minute when Mikel Merino, a second-half substitute, scored the winning goal. Ferran Torres provided the assist, setting up Merino for a well-placed shot. Despite late efforts from Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Joao Neves to equalize, Portugal could not find the net.

Spain's victory extends their impressive unbeaten run in regulation time to 35 matches (26 wins, 9 draws) since a loss to Colombia in March 2024. They now await the winner of the USA vs. Belgium match, which will determine their next opponent in the tournament.