Portugal eliminated from the World Cup by Spain
The living legend of world football, Cristiano Ronaldo, ended his World Cup history in an unexpected and dramatic fashion. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
In the round of 16 match of the 2026 World Cup, the Portugal national team lost to Spain 0:1 in the Iberian derby and exited the tournament. The match, held in Dallas, was not just a defeat for the team, but marked the end of an entire era in football history.
According to information from Goal.com, this game was Ronaldo's last appearance at the World Championships. The first half began cautiously for both teams, but with dangerous attacks.
In the early minutes of the match, João Cancelo and Mikel Oyarzabal failed to capitalize on good opportunities. Cristiano Ronaldo tried to show his usual activity, but Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simón managed to save his shots.
Portugal's defender Diogo Costa also cleared consecutive shots from Lamine Yamal and Álex Baena in the first half, keeping his team in the game. Before halftime, Portugal came very close to opening the score.
A powerful shot from Nuno Mendes struck the opponent's defender and went out for a corner. Additionally, combinations involving João Félix and Cristiano Ronaldo were not enough to break through Spain's defensive line.
The teams went to halftime with a tense goalless draw. The second half passed in a nervous and cautious manner.
Both teams avoided taking risks and focused more on defense. Bruno Fernandes' uncertain shots and Lamine Yamal's penalty kick did not create serious problems for the goalkeepers.
However, the final minutes of the match turned into a real tragedy for Portugal. In the added time, Mikel Merino, who came on as a substitute, scored precisely after a delicate pass from Ferran Torres.
This goal shattered all hopes of the Portugal national team. As the match neared its end, Bernardo Silva could have equalized, but his header hit the upper part of the crossbar and went out.
This defeat marked Cristiano Ronaldo's final appearance at the World Cup at the age of 41. Despite setting numerous records during his career, the forward was forced to end his last World Cup without medals or goals.
For Portugal, this result is considered a major disappointment, as the team was regarded as one of the tournament favorites based on its squad. Spain, after this victory, advanced to the semifinals.
Luis de la Fuente's students demonstrated disciplined play and determination in the final minutes, earning their place in the next round. Now, a new era is expected to begin in Portuguese football, as many of the team's key players are approaching the end of their international careers.
