TEXAS, Thekabarnews.com—Spain sealed their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals with an exciting 1-0 win over Portugal. The win happened in a round of 16 clash at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 7.

It was a tightly contested match that looked set for extra time. However, midfielder Mikel Merino scored a wonderful winner in the 90+1 minute of injury time to give Spain the win and crush Portugal’s hopes of progressing further in the tournament.

Merino’s winner booked Spain’s place in the final eight. Spain will meet the winner of the Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium.

But the loss meant Portugal, led by veteran skipper Cristiano Ronaldo in a spirited display, suffered another heartbreaking World Cup exit.

While Portugal’s campaign ended earlier than planned, Ronaldo added another milestone to his illustrious international career.

The 41-year-old forward had made his 25th start in the World Cup, second only to the most starts in FIFA World Cup history. He is second only to Lionel Messi’s 27 games, as quoted by Kompas.

The landmark achievement adds to Ronaldo’s legacy as one of the all-time greats of World Cup history. In addition, it illustrates his durability and consistency across several editions of the sport’s flagship tournament.

Opta stats also highlighted another intriguing element of Ronaldo’s World Cup career. The European power has been his most frequent opponent in the competition, with three meetings with Spain.

In those games he scored three goals, showing his ability to perform against the best on the biggest stage in football.

Ronaldo could not inspire a Portuguese comeback despite all his brilliance after Merino’s late winner.

Spain maintained their superb World Cup run with discipline and patience in a game that created few clear chances. The breakthrough comes deep into stoppage time to reward the team’s relentless attacking pressure.

The victory also confirmed Spain as one of the stronger teams in the tournament. The ex-world champions have combined defensive sturdiness with efficient attacking play. They do so under a balanced tactical approach in their search for another World Cup championship.

For Portugal it is the end of the road and a feeling of disappointment. Still, they had a few great performances that showed a good mix of experienced veterans and up-and-coming young players.

Now the focus shifts to the national team’s future and whether Ronaldo has played his final World Cup match. This comes after an amazing international career that spanned two decades.

Spain now turns its attention to the quarterfinals, where it will face another tough test against either the United States or Belgium.

La Furia Roja intentará aprovechar la inercia de una espectacular victoria sobre su rival ibérico en su búsqueda del triunfo en el Mundial.

His latest record is another reminder of Ronaldo’s enduring impact on the world of football. The Portuguese superstar again made his mark in the World Cup record books even in defeat. Additionally, he added another milestone to one of the sport’s most decorated careers.