Goal.com·3 min read·medium
Spain player ratings vs Portugal: Mikel Merino is the ultimate super-sub! Arsenal star comes up clutch to send Cristiano Ronaldo & Co. packing from World Cup last 16
T
Tom Hindle
✦AI Summary
Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 thanks to a late goal from substitute Mikel Merino. The victory advances Spain to the next round while ending Cristiano Ronaldo's tenure in the tournament.
Substitute Mikel Merino scored a late winner as Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in an unexpectedly drab World Cup round-of-16 clash on Monday. The Arsenal midfielder was introduced in the 85th minute and won the game in the 91st with a tidy finish that was just about deserved. La Roja were ineffective for long stretches, and created little, but Merino proved to be the difference-maker.
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