Ronaldo’s World Cup Is Over. Spain’s Late Goal Ended It.

Mikel Merino scored in the first minute of stoppage time to give Spain a 1-0 win over Portugal in the round of 16 on Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the pitch in Arlington, Texas with tears in his eyes. He had said before the match that this would be his last World Cup. Now it’s over.

How the Goal Happened

The match went 90 minutes without a goal. Both goalkeepers were excellent. Portugal’s Diogo Costa made multiple big saves. Spain’s Unai Simon was barely tested.
Then Rodri played a pass to Ferran Torres on the right side. Torres took a touch, turned, and slid a ball across the face of goal. Merino came running in unmarked and steered it into the net. That was it. One goal. Game over.
Portugal almost equalized in the final seconds. Bernardo Silva got his head to a cross but sent it over the bar. The referee blew the final whistle moments later.

Ronaldo’s Night

He had one genuine chance. A rebound from a Joao Felix shot fell to Ronaldo on the edge of the six-yard box. He tried to flick it in with the top of his right foot. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon somehow scrambled back and got a hand to it.
That was his last real moment. He spent most of the night chasing balls he couldn’t reach, making runs that arrived a step too late. At 41, the legs simply aren’t there anymore. He had scored in six different World Cups — nobody in history has done that. But tonight was not his night.
After the final whistle he walked around the pitch clapping the Portuguese fans. His eyes were red. Nobody needed to ask how he felt.

What Portugal Lost

Nuno Mendes was Portugal’s best player until he picked up an injury and had to come off. While he was on the field, Lamine Yamal was kept quiet. Once Mendes went off, Yamal started causing problems. That was the turning point in the match.
Portugal had possession and created some chances, but they couldn’t solve Spain’s defense. Spain hasn’t conceded a single goal in this entire tournament — five games, five clean sheets.

What’s Next for Spain

Spain advance to the quarterfinals and will face either the United States or Belgium on Friday in Los Angeles. They are playing without their best form — they looked sharper at Euro 2024 — but they keep winning. That counts for everything at a World Cup.
Ronaldo will be 45 when the next World Cup comes around. He said himself this was his last. The tears on Sunday night confirmed it.
Source: CNN, NBC News, ESPN, Fox Sports, AP