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Mikel Merino's late goal sends Spain to quarterfinals and ends Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career
Mikel Merino scored seconds into second-half stoppage time, and Spain beat Portugal 1-0 on Monday to end the World Cup career of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mikel Merino's late goal sends Spain to quarterfinals and ends Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career
Cristiano Ronaldo has indicated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is his last World Cup tournament. / Reuters

Mikel Merino scored seconds into second-half stoppage time, and Spain beat Portugal 1-0 on Monday to end the World Cup career of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

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 Diogo Costa after taking a pass from Ferran Torres.

Spain advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since winning its only World Cup title in 2010 in South Africa. Spain will play either the United States or Belgium on Friday in Los Angeles.

Ronaldo was trying to get Portugal to the quarterfinals in a second consecutive tournament for the first time. Instead, the career on football's biggest stage is over for the all-time leader in international goals.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Portugal's match against Spain, the 41-year-old said: "Let this be my last World Cup; it is my last World Cup, and I hope tomorrow (Spain's match on Monday) won't be my last match."