Spain beat Portugal as Ronaldo's World Cup career comes to end - ESPN

Mikel Merino scored a late goal to send Spain past Portugal in the round of 16 on Monday and into a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal for the first time since they won it all in 2010.

With the game looking like it was headed to extra time in Arlington, Texas, a Ferran Torres through-ball sprang Merino in the penalty area and he slotted home past Diogo Costa to give Spain the breakthrough goal in the 1-0 win over their neighbors on the Iberian Peninsula.

Merino had just been knocked down, and a foul was called. While a Portugal player argued, Merino played the ball back in, ran toward the goal and put a shot past goalkeeper Costa after taking a pass from Torres.

There were some nervy moments down the stretch for Luis de la Fuente's side as Portugal twice came close to levelling the score, but the 2024 European Champions clung to their lead in a game that could be the last for Cristiano Ronaldo in a Portugal shirt.

«Mikel Merino never lets you down. He's a sure thing. He won us the Euros,» Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said after the game. «He's a huge player — one of the best in the world in his position. We're lucky to have players on the bench who would be starters in any other national team. The important thing is the attitude when they come on, and in the day to day.

»All I ask is for people to be fair in their recognition. Mikel Merino is a player with exceptional performance, he's a player who is always where he needs to be."

Spain now await the winner of Monday's game between Belgium and the United States to see who they will face in the quarterfinals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

«You remember everything, all the good, all the bad, what you've got back at home,» Merino said after the game. «There've been