Spain's late goal crushes Portugal's World Cup dream, Ronaldo exits stage

Portugal's World Cup journey ended in heartbreak as Spain secured a dramatic 1-0 victory with a goal in the 91st minute, eliminating the Portuguese in the round of 16. The loss also signals the likely end of Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career and has triggered the departure of manager Roberto Martinez.

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It's over.

Local media reports suggest that veteran coach Jorge Jesus, who previously managed Ronaldo at Al Nassr, is the leading candidate to replace Martinez. Jesus, a prominent figure in Portuguese football with a history at clubs like Benfica and Sporting, recently won the Saudi Pro League title with Ronaldo.

Despite arriving at the tournament as favorites, Portugal's performance was marred by two group-stage draws, which led to a challenging knockout match against European champions Spain. The team's midfield, featuring talents like Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Bruno Fernandes, could not overcome the late Spanish surge.

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A lapse in concentration in stoppage time, a premature exit just moments before extra time was due to begin, knocked the national team out of the World Cup.

Portuguese sports newspapers reflected the nation's disappointment. Record lamented a "lapse in concentration in stoppage time" and noted Ronaldo's "farewell without the title he deserved." O Jogo was more critical, describing Portugal's mentality as "short-sighted" and their on-pitch approach as "one-dimensional," stating that Spain "dominated and won."

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Merino crushed the already faint dream.

The frustration extended to post-match discussions, with defender Ruben Dias clashing with former player Ricardo Quaresma on television. Dias defended the team's performance, calling it one of their best games against Spain, but Quaresma argued that with their talent, Portugal should have achieved much more.

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There's no other way to put it: Portugal wanted to survive and withered away; Spain dominated and won.