Merino's late goal sends Spain past Portugal into quarterfinals

Mikel Merino delivered the decisive blow in the 91st minute, scoring as a substitute to give Spain a 1-0 victory over Portugal in Arlington, Texas, and a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The goal settled a tight round-of-16 match and ended Portugal’s tournament, closing out Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup run.

For Merino, the finish capped a remarkable recovery from the injury that threatened to keep him out of the tournament altogether. On 25 January 2026, he suffered a stress fracture in his right foot, forcing his season onto hold and putting his World Cup place in jeopardy. By the time Spain needed a late answer against Portugal, the Arsenal midfielder had returned to full fitness and turned himself into the man most likely to change the game at the hardest moment.

The strike also reinforced a pattern that has made Merino one of Spain’s most reliable knockout-stage weapons. He had already authored one of the defining moments of Euro 2024, scoring a decisive late goal against Germany in the quarterfinals. Against Portugal, he again arrived when Spain most needed composure, timing and a clean finish under pressure.

Spain’s victory kept alive its bid for a second world title and underlined why the team had been viewed as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders. Merino, still only recently back from a serious foot injury, has moved from doubt before the tournament to centerpiece during its sharpest moments, a rise that has made this stretch of his career feel like his happiest yet.