World Cup – Mikel Merino’s Late Goal Sends Spain Into Quarterfinals
World Cup – Spain’s World Cup campaign moved into the quarterfinal stage after Mikel Merino scored a stoppage-time winner against Portugal, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s final appearance at the tournament. The Arsenal midfielder later said the timing of the goal felt especially meaningful because it came during the annual San Fermin celebrations in his home country.
Spain World Cup quarterfinal qualification and Mikel Merino’s decisive late goal –
Spain secured a hard-fought victory over Portugal in the Round of 16, with Merino finding the net in the 91st minute after a tense match filled with missed opportunities and strong defensive work from both teams. The late strike proved decisive and sent Spain through to the last eight.
The contest also brought together two players from different generations of football. Spain’s 18-year-old Lamine Yamal featured in a high-profile match against Portugal captain Ronaldo, who at 41 was appearing in what became his final FIFA World Cup campaign.
A Closely Contested Portugal-Spain Match
Portugal and Spain created several openings during the match but struggled to convert their chances. Goalkeepers and defenders on both sides played important roles in keeping the score level for much of the game.
Spain remained patient as the match approached its closing stages, while Portugal continued to search for a breakthrough that could have kept Ronaldo’s hopes of winning a World Cup title alive. Instead, Merino’s late finish changed the outcome and brought Portugal’s tournament to an end.
The result marked another major moment for Spain in the competition, while Portugal were left to reflect on a narrow defeat in a match decided in the final minutes.
Merino Links Goal to San Fermin Celebrations
After the match, Merino spoke in a video shared by the official Spain national team account on Instagram. He said he felt a connection between important moments in his career and the San Fermin festival, which is held annually from July 6 to July 14 in Pamplona.
The festival honours Saint Fermin, the patron saint and first bishop of Pamplona. It is widely known for its public celebrations, music, street events and the traditional Running of the Bulls.
Merino described the late goal as an emotional moment and suggested that playing close to the festival dates had brought him good fortune once again.
“Last minute… it is crazy,” Merino said in the video. “San Fermin protects me or something, but every time it is the 6th or near the festivities, I have that luck. Very happy.”
Team Effort Behind Decisive Finish
The midfielder was also asked whether he had developed a reputation for scoring important goals. Merino said his ability to make an impact in key moments came from being ready when opportunities arrived.
He credited Spain’s overall performance and said the goal was the result of collective work rather than an individual effort. His comments reflected the team-focused approach that has helped Spain progress through the tournament.
“It seems so,” he said when asked about scoring decisive goals. “It is what happens when you are prepared, you are looking forward to helping, and they give you the opportunity. I scored it, but it was also thanks to the good work of all my teammates.”
Spain Await Quarterfinal Opponent
Spain will now face the winner of the United States and Belgium Round of 16 match in the quarterfinals. The team will enter the next stage with confidence after surviving a demanding contest against Portugal.
For Merino, the goal added another memorable chapter to Spain’s World Cup run. For Portugal, the defeat brought an end to Ronaldo’s long World Cup journey without the title that had remained absent from his international achievements.