Spain Eliminate Portugal on Merino's Late Goal, Ronaldo's Future in Doubt
Mikel Merino scored in stoppage time to send Spain into the World Cup quarter-finals, defeating Portugal 1-0. Cristiano Ronaldo's international future remains uncertain following the defeat.
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Spain advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals after Mikel Merino scored a stoppage-time winner against Portugal in the round of 16, securing a 1-0 victory on Monday. The goal came in the first minute of added time at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, ending Portugal’s campaign and casting doubt over Cristiano Ronaldo’s international future.
Merino, introduced as a substitute, calmly converted the decisive strike, breaking Portuguese resistance after a tightly contested match. Spain recorded their fourth consecutive clean sheet in the tournament, according to SABC News, with their defense holding firm against late Portuguese pressure.
Portugal’s exit has sparked speculation about Ronaldo’s next steps. Ahead of the match, Ronaldo said, 'I will finish when I choose,' addressing ongoing questions about his international career, Al Jazeera reported. Multiple outlets, including Timeslive and Sowetan Live, noted that Ronaldo is expected to announce his international retirement following the team’s elimination.
Spain will face their quarter-final opponent after the completion of the remaining round-of-16 fixtures. Ronaldo, 41, has not confirmed whether he will continue playing for Portugal beyond this World Cup, leaving his status unresolved for now.