Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed his final appearance at a World Cup following a dramatic last-16 exit against Spain in Dallas. The 41-year-old forward was left in tears after the late defeat but insisted he will not make any immediate decisions regarding his overall future with the national team.
Luis de la Fuente was full of praise for his substitutes after Spain secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Portugal to reach the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals. The La Roja boss highlighted the "masterful" contribution of Mikel Merino, who settled the tense knockout clash with a clinical strike in the dying moments.
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career was brought to a bitterly disappointing close as Portugal were defeated 1-0 by their neighbours Spain in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup on Monday. The legendary attacker was peripheral before Mikel Merino's stoppage-time strike settled an underwhelming heavyweight tie in Dallas.
Substitute Mikel Merino scored a late winner as Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in an unexpectedly drab World Cup round-of-16 clash on Monday. The Arsenal midfielder was introduced in the 85th minute and won the game in the 91st with a tidy finish that was just about deserved. La Roja were ineffective for long stretches, and created little, but Merino proved to be the difference-maker.
FC Pas de la Casa
