Merino's 91st-minute goal sends Spain past Portugal into World Cup quarterfinals

Mikel Merino emerged as Spain's hero, scoring a dramatic 91st-minute goal to secure a 1-0 victory over Portugal and advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. The tightly contested Round of 16 match, held on July 6, saw both teams create chances but struggle to find the net until Merino's late intervention.

Spain's winning goal stemmed from a swift attacking move involving three substitutes. Ferran Torres, who entered the game in the 75th minute, assisted Merino, who had come on just ten minutes prior. This substitution strategy by Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente proved decisive, mirroring Merino's crucial goal in Euro 2024 that eliminated Germany.

The match was a tense affair, with both Portugal and Spain showing increased respect for each other as the game progressed, making scoring opportunities scarce. Early in the first half, Mikel Oyarzabal had a good chance for Spain, while Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena also tested the Portuguese defense. For Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nuno Mendes had notable attempts, with one shot hitting the crossbar.

With this victory, Spain moves on to face the winner of the USA-Belgium match in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo concluded his 27th World Cup appearance, a tournament where he remains the only player to have scored in six different editions. Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon continued to impress, extending his personal record for consecutive minutes without conceding a goal to 609, surpassing his previous record set in the previous round.