Mikel Merino delivered a dramatic stoppage-time winner for Spain, securing their place in the World Cup quarter-finals and sending Portugal, along with football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, crashing out of the tournament. Merino, a tall and somewhat ungainly figure, calmly slotted Ferran Torres’s through-ball past Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa, sealing a victory in a scrappy game that had largely lacked such composure. He celebrated by running around the corner flag, a gesture echoing his father’s celebration after scoring for Osasuna in Stuttgart in 1991, and one he had also used after his winner against Germany at the Euros two years ago.
For Cristiano Ronaldo, the final whistle marked a bleak and definitive end to his illustrious World Cup career. At 41, the tournament is now over for the player who holds the unique record of scoring in six World Cups. He stood staring into the middle distance, a picture of mortality finally catching up with a career celebrated for its remarkable longevity.
Ronaldo’s departure from the global stage has been anticipated for at least four years, dating back to the Qatar World Cup’s last-16 tie where he was benched against Switzerland, only for his replacement, Gonçalo Ramos, to score a hat-trick in a resounding 6-1 win. While it would be unfair to say he bowed out with a whimper, his farewell was described as “impotent,” a sad conclusion to a legendary career. Critics suggest his ego has unfortunately tainted his legacy, portraying him as an “albatross” hindering what could have been a brilliant Portugal midfield.
The focus remained on Ronaldo even when his on-field contributions were minimal. His press conference on Sunday was notably remarkable, featuring jibes, jokes, a poignant acknowledgment of his career’s end, and moments of extraordinary self-pity. A comparison to Lionel Messi’s aging career highlights the contrast: Messi has adapted by rationing his running and taking unusual positions, drifting effectively. Ronaldo, however, has largely remained central in his “lumberings,” demanding the ball constantly and compelling teammates to pass to him, often making situations worse when he drifted wide or deep. A low point on Monday saw him stifle a late second-half break, checking back to pass to his right-back due to a lack of pace and energy.
Familiar posturings were evident throughout the match, including bafflingly slow stepovers that served only to remind of his past brilliance, shrugs and pleas directed at teammates and officials, and grimaces at what he perceived as the world’s unfairness, alongside a couple of hopeful shots. The presence of “Ronaldo ultras” was also notable, as they booed Lamine Yamal and roared in fury whenever their hero went down and appealed to the referee, a frequent occurrence. Late in his career, Ronaldo has increasingly resembled a child who must be indulged because it’s “his ball.”
Beyond the pervasive narrative surrounding Ronaldo, the match itself was a compelling battle between two highly gifted midfields, with Spain largely having the upper hand. Their unit showed a real sense of cohesion, particularly with Rodri gradually regaining the form he displayed at the Euros before his ACL injury. At times, Rodri commanded situations with the dismissive calm of a parent playing a children’s game.
Portugal’s Nuno Mendes had a strong performance, effectively shutting down Lamine Yamal and even hitting the bar with a deflected shot just before half-time. However, his influence waned after he overstretched while blocking a Lamine Yamal shot and had to be substituted, allowing the Barcelona teenager to exert greater pressure.
Despite their victory, a lingering concern from the group stage, only partially alleviated by their last-32 win against Austria, persisted for Spain: they lacked the cutting edge seen in the Euros two years prior. Lamine Yamal, possibly due to injury, has been less effective than he was then, and none of the players operating on the left flank have matched the threat posed by Nico Williams in previous tournaments.
Nevertheless, Spain demonstrated sufficient quality to advance and will now face either the United States or Belgium in the quarter-finals in Los Angeles on Friday. Meanwhile, Ronaldo, intrusively followed by a TV camera, made his solitary walk down the tunnel into the darkness, a “limp” and “almost tawdry” farewell to his World Cup journey.
