Spain secured a 1-0 victory over Portugal on Monday in Dallas to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s lengthy career in the tournament. The decisive moment came in the 91st minute when Mikel Merino, who had entered the match just minutes earlier, scored the winning goal following a well-executed attack involving Ferran Torres. Merino’s precise finish broke a goalless deadlock in a match largely marked by strong defensive play and limited clear-cut opportunities.

Ronaldo, 41, had confirmed before the tournament that this would be his last World Cup appearance. Despite his status as the all-time leading scorer and appearance maker in men’s international football, his efforts were unable to overcome Spain’s resilient defense. The veteran forward’s most notable chance came in the 37th minute on a backward flick after a header from teammate João Félix, but Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón made a crucial save to keep the match scoreless. Portugal also had moments of promise, including a header from Bernardo Silva that narrowly went over the crossbar in stoppage time, but were ultimately unable to find an equalizer.

Spain’s victory extended their unbeaten run to 35 matches, matching the longest streak in their history, previously set by the 2008 European Championship-winning team. This marks Spain’s first World Cup quarter-final appearance since their tournament triumph in 2010. Should they advance further, they could surpass Italy’s record unbeaten streak of 37 matches. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente praised Merino and other substitutes for their impact, highlighting the depth and quality of his squad.

The match was described by observers as cautious and tactical, with both sides hesitant to commit heavily in pursuit of a goal during regular time. Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martinez, announced his resignation following the defeat, acknowledging the end of a cycle and expressing the need for fresh leadership. Martinez had aimed to lead Portugal to their first World Cup title but was unable to achieve this objective.

Spain will now face either the United States or Belgium in the quarter-finals on Friday in Inglewood, California. The meeting between these Iberian rivals added another chapter to a long-standing football rivalry dating back more than a century, this time marked by the end of one of the sport’s most distinguished international careers.