Spain snatched a late win in stoppage time to settle their blockbuster World Cup last 16 tie with Portugal thanks to Mikel Merino’s lovely finish into the bottom left corner.In a largely tense game, with both teams appearing to settle for extra-time in Dallas, Ferran Torres slipped in the Arsenal forward, who stunned the Selecao.The crushing loss hands Cristiano Ronaldo heartbreak, with Roberto Martinez’s side rarely gambling across the duration of the match.Nuno Mendes did crash the bar in the first half before going off injured in the second, but ultimately Portugal lacked ambition and the European champions closed out the victory by becoming the first team in World Cup history to keep six consecutive clean sheets. Follow all the latest reaction from the World Cup last-16 tie below:De La Fuente hails decisive benchLuis de La Fuente, in his flash interview, said: “The decisive players were those who came off the bench. I told Merino he should play how he always does. His role is to support the midfielders and the forwards. With him, we were thinking about giving the team the rhythm and energy it needed. The players’ impact from the bench has been masterful, but that’s because we have 26 players of a very high level.”Alan Smith7 July 2026 00:15Rodri superiorRodri was player of the match. A reasonable choice - unlike many others as the tournament chases the cult of celebrity.Alan Smith7 July 2026 00:01Player ratings - how Ronaldo and co performedThe Iberian rivals struggled to break each other down in a match of attrition, with Nuno Mendes coming closer than anyone inside 90 minutes when his strike was deflected onto the crossbar in the first half.But with none of the contest’s starters having the key to find a winner, Mikel Merino came off the bench to provide another clutch moment for his country in stoppage time, slotting home after being set up by fellow replacement Ferran Torres.Portugal were unable to find a late equaliser to save their World Cup campaign, ending 41-year-old Ronaldo’s dream of adding the elusive title to his trophy collection with retirement looming.Alan Smith6 July 2026 23:45Martinez confirms departure"It's the end of the cycle. It's important to have a new voice, a new leader," Martinez said in his post-match press conference."I take with myself the memories, and hope that Portugal has good memories in the three years and a half I was head coach of the team. It was the experience of my life."It had not been decided previously (that I would leave after the tournament). I came with the goal to win the World Cup, and because I did not win, it does not make sense to continue."(Reuters)Alan Smith6 July 2026 23:30Ronaldo in tearsCristiano Ronaldo was in tears at full-time after his and Portugal’s World Cup dream ended in the last-16 against Spain in Dallas.A stalemate for the majority, Mikel Merino’s decisive finish through on goal put Spain in front in stoppage time and Portugal could not find an equaliser despite going close in the dying seconds.The World Cup is the only major competition Ronaldo has not won but now, at the sixth time of trying, the 41-year-old Portuguese captain will have to come to terms with not claiming international football’s biggest prize.Kieran Jackson6 July 2026 23:15Alan Smith6 July 2026 23:00Looking aheadUp next Spain face Belgium or the US, who meet at 1am BST in a tie already full of controversy.You can follow all the buildup to that one here.Alan Smith6 July 2026 22:45Solid Spain's clean sheet runIt’s no 609 minutes since Spain last conceded.Alan Smith6 July 2026 22:30Rooney hails Ronaldo"He's a genius, a superstar, what he's given to football,” the former Manchester United teammate says on BBC. “Of course he's playing in Saudi but at this level, to millions of people, it's something very rare, you won't see very often. He'll be very disappointed because he'll have thought he could win it. Unfortunately, time gets us all.“I wouldn't rule him out of playing again for Portugal, that's his mentality. I think Roberto Martinez will [have regrets], I think Portugal did OK, they contained Spain, they had energy up front, but now it's a chance to blossom beyond the Ronaldo years, they'll see it as a new start. He absolutely lives and dedicated his whole life to football."Alan Smith6 July 2026 22:15Spain through - but more to come?Spain’s squad celebrate calmly. They were not quite as fluid in this one, the Iberian rivalry perhaps stifling their creativity for long spells, but it is yet another clean sheet and they look so, so solid at the back.They will face USA or Belgium in the quarter-finals. Neither will fear them but there remains a sense that La Roja can find another gear in attack.(Getty)Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal shows dejection (Getty)Alan Smith6 July 2026 22:09