Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is set to bring his World Cup career to a close after his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Spain secured a place in the quarter-finals with a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Mikel Merino, who converted Ferran Torres’ pass beyond goalkeeper Diogo Costa in Dallas.
The victory sends Spain into a last-eight clash with the winner of the USA versus Belgium fixture.
Ronaldo had revealed before the match that the 2026 tournament would be his final World Cup appearance, making Portugal’s exit an emotional end to his journey on football’s biggest stage.
The veteran forward appeared visibly disappointed after the final whistle as his team bowed out without producing the performance many expected.
Portugal’s elimination marks the end of an era for one of the country’s greatest football icons.
