Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career ends in tears as Portugal suffer late defeat to Spain

Spain ended Portugal’s World Cup adventure and Cristiano Ronaldo’s career on the most gilded stage in football.

A precise finish from Mikel Merino in the first minute of stoppage time sealed a 1-0 victory after a game of few chances looked certain to be heading for extra time. Spain will face the winners of today’s game between the United States and Belgium.

Ronaldo, 41, said before this game that this would be his final World Cup and, if that is the case, it was a muted farewell for one of football’s greatest of all time. There were tears from Ronaldo as he left the field at the end of the game.

Here, The Athletic’s writers analyse the big talking points.

Where did it go wrong for Ronaldo?

The show is over.

Ronaldo’s 2026 World Cup dream ended the way it started, with serious questions around whether this was a tournament too far for a man who looked what he is: a 41-year-old trying to push back the hands of time.

He became the first player to score in six World Cups, but there’s little else that will be recalled fondly about his presence this summer. Two goals against Uzbekistan, who lost all three group matches, and a penalty against Croatia were as good as it got for Ronaldo. He was peripheral against Spain and that feels like the story of his World Cup.

Ronaldo had only 12 touches in the opening 45 minutes, nine fewer than the next-lowest player on the pitch, Spain centre-forward Mikel Oyarzabal.

Naturally, that leads to a lot being made of a little inside the stadium. For example, when Joao Felix nodded Pedro Neto’s inswinging cross back across goal, and Ronaldo flicked the ball goalbound, there were gasps from the crowd. In reality, it was an easy save for Unai Simon. Positioned beyond the near post and stretching every sinew, Ronaldo failed to get enough purchase on the ball.

An earlier attempt was hit with more conviction after a stepover created half a yard of space, but the angle was always against Ronaldo.

At times, he was unable to conceal his frustration. There was a run behind the defence early in the second half but Joao Neves, much to Ronaldo’s annoyance, turned down the pass. Shortly afterwards, Ronaldo moved towards the centre of the penalty area and Joao Cancelo stood up a cross toward the back post. Later in the game, Ronaldo questioned why Pedro Neto passed him the ball, rather than carrying it upfield during a counter-attack that fizzled out. Quite simply, it didn’t work.

Stuart James

How did Spain break the deadlock?

This was a cagey encounter, as two of the tournament’s highest-quality teams largely cancelled each other out. Lamine Yamal struggled to weave his way into the penalty area with the ball at his feet, while Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo struggled to find space.

The decisive goal eventually came as two substitutes linked up. It was a lapse in concentration from Portugal, who reacted slowly to a quick free kick, allowing the lively Ferran Torres to receive on the edge of the box. He controlled, spun, and slipped a lovely ball through to Merino, who made a trademark late run into the box. The finish was assured, dispatched in the near corner with the confidence of a No 9 — where, of course, Merino has played on occasion for Arsenal.

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Spain have not conceded at this tournament, and though it wasn’t vintage from Luis de la Fuente’s side, they showed their ability to stay in gruelling games and click into gear at the crucial moment.

Thom Harris

What makes Spain’s defence so strong?

Their reliability at the back was clear again today.

Spain have kept five clean sheets in five games, but that strength does not come from sitting deep or defending in numbers. They look to control possession and territory, best illustrated by Austria having zero shots on target in the last 16, allowing goalkeeper Simon to set an all-time World Cup record of 519 minutes unbeaten (now up to more than 600 minutes, including one and a half games at the 2022 World Cup).

Ronaldo did get two shots on target during the opening half, the most dangerous a stinging drive parried by Simon, who has retained his place under De la Fuente despite the qualities of Arsenal’s Premier League winner David Raya and Barcelona’s La Liga champion Joan Garcia.

Centre-backs Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte remained alert, while full-back Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro were positionally sound. They were all helped by holding midfielder Rodri, who looked as sharp and strong as he has for some time. The Manchester City man regularly read the danger, nipping in to dispossess Portugal players who threatened to get close to Spain’s goal — including neatly timed challenges on Ronaldo, Joao Felix and Neves.

Spain’s most vulnerable moment came when Portugal worked a two-on-one advantage from a short corner, leading to Nuno Mendes firing a shot that flicked off Porro’s head and smashed off the crossbar.

Dermot Corrigan

How did Spain stay so patient?

This was a typical Spanish big-tournament performance — they appeared in control, but struggled to convert their apparent dominance into a lead.

Rodri, Pedri and Dani Olmo regularly worked some interesting triangles around the ball in the centre of the park, keeping Portugal at arms’ length, but there was just not enough cutting edge near Diogo Costa’s goal.

The Portugal goalkeeper did save well from Yamal and Alex Baena early in the first half, but was generally not worked enough. Three times, Spain put a really dangerous ball across the opposition six-yard box and nobody was there. Oyarzabal again usefully linked the play, but unlike against Austria and Saudi Arabia earlier in the tournament, he was not in the right place at the right time when needed.

Back in 2010, Spain turned their dominance into narrow victories, winning all four knockout games 1-0 on the way to winning their only World Cup.

At the two most recent World Cups, they have exited in really frustrating circumstances, losing on penalties to Russia and Morocco after failing to find a way through packed defences.

That will have led to nerves among Spanish fans and players as the minutes ticked past here and the game remained scoreless despite La Roja appearing well on top.

Spain’s patience this time paid off, with a beautifully worked move between Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, Ferran Torres and Merino, before the Arsenal midfielder applied a cool low finish.

Dermot Corrigan

Would USMNT have a chance against Spain?

It would be unlike any challenge that the USMNT have faced at this World Cup.

Spain have averaged 65.5 per cent of the ball across their five games, a team packed with technical ability and creative talent. Yamal is arguably the world’s most dangerous winger, while Olmo, Baena and Pedri are specialists in tight spaces, moving the ball into the box with neat touches and clever passes through the lines.

Even if they were to keep out Spain, Mauricio Pochettino’s side would need to break down a Spanish defence that has not conceded this tournament.

A spirited Cape Verde performance on the opening matchday proved that Spain can be frustrated, but it would be an almighty task.

Thom Harris

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