Cristiano Ronaldo dreams of winning a World Cup came to an end after Spain beat Portugal 1-0 with a stoppage time goal from Mikel Merino.
There are now reports of Ronaldo possible retirement from international duties as earlier claim by his sister before their game against Croatia in the round 32.
The match appeared destined for extra time, until the late strike which proved to be the difference, effectively ending Portugal’s tournament.
The match began with high expectations, given the history and talent present on both sides of the Iberian derby.
However, the first half failed to produce the fireworks many fans anticipated. Both teams played with caution, seemingly afraid to commit too many bodies forward and risk conceding.
Spain maintained their defensive discipline just like they have been doing so far in the tournament, while Portugal struggled to find rhythm in the final third of play.
One of the few bright moments for Portugal came when Nuno Mendes rattled the crossbar with a powerful, deflected drive.
On the other side, Spain’s best opportunity of the opening period fell to Mikel Oyarzabal, who fired wide after being set up by Dani Olmo.
The opportunities kept on coming for both team, but none could convert any of them despite how close it was to becoming a goal.
Diogo Costa also had to be at his best to deny Alex Baena, ensuring the teams went into the halftime break deadlocked at 0-0.
As the second half progressed, the atmosphere inside the air-conditioned stadium grew increasingly tense.
The prospect of extra time loomed large, with neither team able to break the defensive wall of their opponents.
Spain, who had not conceded a single goal throughout the entire tournament, continued to look solid at the back, while Portugal’s urgency increased as the minutes ticked away.
There were so many moments which was expected to have changed the scoreline. Both teams continues pushing while also being cautious.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the first minute of injury time. Ferran Torres, who had come on as a substitute, delivered a precise pass to Mikel Merino.
With cool composure, Merino slotted the ball past Diogo Costa, sending the Spanish fans into a celebration and leaving the Portuguese players devastated on the pitch.
The game concluded with Spain claiming a 1-0 victory against Portugal after 90 minutes of action which could have easily pushed to extra time or penalties.
The final whistle was particularly difficult for Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old icon had confirmed before the match that this would be his last World Cup appearance.
Despite his tireless efforts, Portugal could not find an equalizer, and the forward was visibly emotional as he walked off the pitch, signaling the end of his illustrious career on football’s grandest stage.
With this hard-fought win, Spain continues their impressive run in the 2026 tournament. They now move on to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the highly anticipated match between the United States and Belgium.
For Portugal, it is a premature exit, but one that will long be remembered for the high stakes of this bitter rivalry and the final bow of one of the game’s greatest players.
All eyes will turn on Lionel Messi who is another iconic name that could be retiring after this 2026 FIFA World Cup.
