Spain Advances to World Cup Quarterfinals with Late Winner from Mikel Merino

Spain secured a 1-0 victory over Portugal on Monday, advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals. The match was tightly contested, with Spain struggling against Portugal's defense and appearing headed for extra time until Mikel Merino, who entered as a substitute in the 85th minute, scored the decisive goal in the 91st minute. This goal eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, marking what is likely his final World Cup appearance.

Merino has a history of scoring crucial goals for Spain, including a late winner in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals against Germany, which Spain eventually won. Spanish media praised Merino as "the real star of the team," highlighting his impact alongside a key assist from Fran Torres. Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente credited Merino and other substitutes for injecting energy and helping maintain the team's usual style of play.

Midfielder Rodri, named the match's best player, also commended Merino's decisive contribution and emphasized the team's patience and need for continued improvement. Spain remains the only team in the tournament yet to concede a goal, with goalkeeper Unai Simón extending his World Cup shutout streak to 609 minutes over six consecutive matches. Additionally, Spain matched its longest unbeaten streak in history at 35 games, a record previously set between 2007 and 2009.