Substitute Mikel Merino scored in the first minute of second-half stoppage time Monday to give Spain a 1-0 victory over Portugal, a result that likely ended the international career of Cristiano Ronaldo at age 41.
Merino did not enter the match until the 85th minute. After being fouled, he took a quick free kick, ran toward goal, and fired past goalkeeper Diogo Costa following 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, according to Al Jazeera.
Ronaldo, the all-time leader in international goals with 146 and appearances with 233, scored three times in this tournament but had limited chances against Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon. Simon made just two saves in the match, both from Ronaldo shots in the first half. Spain had created the better chances throughout, with extra time and penalties appearing likely before Merino's intervention.
Spain broke a World Cup record with its sixth consecutive clean sheet. Simon extended his own record shutout streak to 609 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 517 consecutive scoreless minutes set during a 3-0 win over Austria earlier in the knockout round. The previous record for consecutive shutout matches had been shared by Italy in 1990 and Switzerland between 2006 and 2010. Simon's streak dates to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Merino's decisive moment came thanks in part to the versatility he showed while helping Arsenal win its first Premier League title in more than 20 years in May. He had been doubtful to make Spain's squad because of injuries that also affected his club season.
The Iberian rivals first played a friendly in Madrid 105 years ago. Their most memorable recent World Cup meeting came eight years ago, when Ronaldo scored a hat trick in a 3-3 group-stage draw that is considered one of the tournament's best-ever matches. Monday's contest was a far quieter affair.
Portugal had been trying to reach consecutive World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in the nation's history. Spain will next play either the United States or Belgium on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium with a semifinal spot at stake.
