Late Spain goal eliminates Portugal, ends Ronaldo’s international career?
Al Jazeera • • sports
Key Points:
- Mikel Merino scored a decisive goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, leading Spain to a 1-0 victory over Portugal and likely ending Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career.
- Spain advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since their 2010 World Cup win and will face either the USA or Belgium in the next round.
- Ronaldo, aiming to help Portugal reach consecutive World Cup quarterfinals for the first time, was limited in chances and ultimately could not overcome Spain's strong defense.
- Spain set a new World Cup record with six consecutive clean sheets, with goalkeeper Unai Simon extending his shutout streak to 609 minutes, surpassing the previous record held by Italy’s Walter Zenga.
- Merino, who came on as a substitute late in the game despite injury concerns, showcased his versatility and quick thinking by scoring the winning goal following a quick free kick.
