{"id":362283,"date":"2026-07-07T08:14:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T02:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=362283"},"modified":"2026-07-07T08:14:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T02:44:24","slug":"spain-wins-it-late-to-offer-ronaldo-bitter-end-to-world-cup-profession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/07\/spain-wins-it-late-to-offer-ronaldo-bitter-end-to-world-cup-profession\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain wins it late to offer Ronaldo bitter end to World Cup profession"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Spain's<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Mikel Merino (6) celebrates scoring his side\u2019s opening goal in the course of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

ARLINGTON\u2013Substitute Mikel Merino scored a dramatic late winner to place Spain within the quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory over Portugal and end Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s World Cup profession on Monday.<\/p>\n

The European champions will face Belgium, which defeated co-host United States, on Friday in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

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In front of an expectant crowd of 70,649 on the air-conditioned home of the Dallas Cowboys, a match that on paper promised a lot didn’t deliver.<\/p>\n

Beyond regular time looked certain, before fellow substitute Ferran Torres slipped in Merino to settle the competition in the primary minute of injury time.<\/p>\n

It meant a sour final World Cup match for the 41-year-old Ronaldo, who looked like he was choking back tears at the top.<\/p>\n

Spain captain Rodri praised the \u201cmaturity\u201d of his side.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf anyone thinks that we are going to move forward without suffering, they’re mistaken,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew we had to attend for the proper moment and it got here, even when in addition they had possibilities to win the sport,\u201d added the Manchester City midfielder.<\/p>\n

Heaping praise on match-winner Merino, who had only been on the pitch six minutes, Rodri said: \u201cHe\u2019s a sensational player\u2026 one which I like.\u201d<\/p>\n

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READ: Cristiano Ronaldo says it again: His sixth World Cup shall be his last<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ronaldo, now playing in Saudi Arabia, confirmed on the eve of the encounter that this could be his last dance on football\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n

One in every of the best players of all time has refused to say when he’ll end his international profession and was ineffective here.<\/p>\n

The neighbors got here into the competition each unbeaten, but while Portugal had not been entirely convincing, Spain had not even conceded a goal within the tournament.<\/p>\n

One in every of the pre-tournament favorites, they still haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n

For all its pedigree, talent and history, Spain has only lifted the World Cup once, in 2010, while Portugal\u2019s best was third place in 1966.<\/p>\n

In Ronaldo and Spain\u2019s 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, the last-16 showdown was touted as a showcase of two extraordinary talents at opposite ends of their careers.<\/p>\n

In reality neither lived as much as expectations on the day.<\/p>\n

There was a sombre moment shortly before kickoff when a black-and-white image of the late Portugal forward Diogo Jota flashed up on the large screen that looms over the sphere.<\/p>\n

\"Portugal's\"Portugal's<\/p>\n

Portugal\u2019s Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts after the top of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Spain must have been ahead with lower than 10 minutes gone when Dani Olmo played in Mikel Oyarzabal but with only goalkeeper Diogo Costa to beat, he someway pulled it well wide.<\/p>\n

Portugal skipper Ronaldo had his first likelihood so as to add to his three goals in North America, stinging the palms of goalkeeper Unai Simon from a decent angle.<\/p>\n

Luis de la Fuente\u2019s Spain cranked up the pressure, Yamal and Alex Baena testing Costa twice in quick succession, the second a beautiful fingertip save.<\/p>\n

Ronaldo \u2014 jeered and cheered in equal measure \u2014 was a marginal presence within the central attacking role he now occupies within the twilight of his profession.<\/p>\n

Portugal ended the half on top and Roberto Martinez\u2019s side were inches from taking the lead when Spain full-back Pedro Porro stuck out his head and directed a Nuno Mendes shot onto his own crossbar.<\/p>\n

The winger Yamal had endured a frustrating time up against Mendes, however the Paris Saint-Germain fullback was forced off injured after 56 minutes in a blow to Portugal.<\/p>\n

The sport needed a spark and Ronaldo, well-known to Spain from his time at Real Madrid, threw up his arms when a pass went astray.<\/p>\n

Martinez made double changes on 71 and 83 minutes, but kept Ronaldo on.<\/p>\n

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And in a game that was cagey, Arsenal midfielder Merino won it on the death with a composed finish that was out of keeping with much of what went on before.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Spain\u2019s Mikel Merino (6) celebrates scoring his side\u2019s opening goal in the course of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez) ARLINGTON\u2013Substitute Mikel Merino scored a dramatic late winner to place Spain within the quarterfinals with a 1-0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":362284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20686],"tags":[15839,21,1060,7272,1085,10404,7069,1546,813],"class_list":["post-362283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football","tag-bitter","tag-career","tag-cup","tag-give","tag-late","tag-ronaldo","tag-spain","tag-wins","tag-world"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t