Portugal 0-1 Spain Result: Merino 90+1 Winner, Ronaldo in Tears, Spain to Quarterfinals

Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in the Iberian derby at the 2026 World Cup - a blockbuster that needed stoppage time to explode. Mikel Merino scored at 90+1. Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears at full time. Roberto Martinez resigned as Portugal boss.

Spain reach the quarterfinals vs Belgium in Los Angeles on July 11. Portugal are out. Ronaldo has played his last World Cup match.

Portugal vs Spain final score

Portugal 0 - Spain 1

Minute	What happened	Score
3’	Oyarzabal shot - Diogo Costa saves	0-0
8’	Oyarzabal drags wide from close range	0-0
11’	Ronaldo penalty appeal - VAR, no penalty	0-0
16’	Costa double save - Yamal and Baena	0-0
37’	Ronaldo header - Unai Simon saves	0-0
41’	Nuno Mendes hits crossbar	0-0
HT	Cagey half - no goals	0-0
76’	Bruno Fernandes - side netting	0-0
75’	Ferran Torres on for Spain	0-0
85’	Mikel Merino on for Spain	0-0
90+1’	Merino goal (assist Ferran Torres)	0-1
FT	Ronaldo in tears. Martinez resigns	0-1

Stadium: AT&T Stadium, Dallas (Arlington). 70,649 fans.

Match timeline - minute by minute

First half - tension, no goals

The Iberian derby was supposed to be fireworks. Instead - a chess match.

Minute 3: Mikel Oyarzabal had the first shot on target. Diogo Costa saved comfortably.

Minute 8: Oyarzabal had a sitter - wide open, dragged it wide. Spain should have been ahead.

Minute 11: Cristiano Ronaldo went down in a scramble with Rodri. VAR checked. No penalty. Ronaldo furious.

Minute 16: Spain’s best spell. Lamine Yamal forced a save. Alex Baena followed up - Costa saved again. Double save.

Minute 37: Portugal’s best chance. Joao Felix flicked a header across goal. Ronaldo met it - Unai Simon saved. Ronaldo was Portugal’s only player with a shot on target all night.

Minute 41: Nuno Mendes hit a rocket. Deflected off Pedro Porro - crossbar. Closest Portugal came.

Half-time: 0-0. Extra time looked likely.

Second half - Merino writes the ending

Both teams waited. The superstars stayed quiet. Then the subs changed everything.

Minute 76: Bruno Fernandes crashed a shot into the side netting after Rafael Leao’s work. Still 0-0.

Minute 75-85: Luis de la Fuente sent on Ferran Torres and Mikel Merino.

Minute 90+1: Breakthrough. Ferran Torres slipped a pass through. Merino ran onto it and finished low inside the near post. Portugal 0-1 Spain. The bench hero again - Merino did the same in the Euro 2024 final.

Full time: Ronaldo stood still, emotional. His sixth and last World Cup - no trophy. Martinez told reporters: “Without winning it, there’s no point in continuing.” He stepped down.

Why this result matters

• Spain - six straight clean sheets at this World Cup. Zero goals conceded in the tournament.
• First team in World Cup history with six consecutive clean sheets.
• Spain back in the quarterfinals for the first time since winning it all in 2010.
• Ronaldo - 27 World Cup appearances, scored in all six editions he played. Still no World Cup title.
• Martinez out. Portugal rebuild begins.

What is next?

Team	Next
Spain	Quarterfinal vs Belgium - July 11, Los Angeles
Portugal	Eliminated - Martinez gone

FAQ

What was Portugal vs Spain score? Portugal 0-1 Spain. Merino at 90+1.

Did Ronaldo score? No. He had one shot on target - saved by Simon. He cried at full time.

Did Martinez resign? Yes. “My contract ends today.” Stepped down after the loss.

Who scored for Spain? Mikel Merino (90+1’), assist Ferran Torres.

Quick summary

• 0-1 Spain - late Merino winner
• Ronaldo tears - last World Cup over
• Martinez resigned
• Spain 6 clean sheets - record
• Quarterfinal: Spain vs Belgium

One moment. One goal. Spain survive. Ronaldo’s dream dies in Dallas.