Portugal was eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, defeated 1-0 by Spain on a goal by Mikel Merino in stoppage time (90+1) in Arlington, Texas. More than just the result of a single game, this elimination marks the end of an era: it is most likely Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup, and coach Roberto Martínez announced his departure from the national team immediately after the final whistle.
The game that ended the dream
The “Iberian Duel” that marked this elimination was the 42nd official match between Portugal and Spain, with the head-to-head record up to that point favoring the Spaniards (17 wins, 17 draws, and 6 losses). Portugal had few chances, with only a shot by Nuno Mendes hitting the crossbar standing out, but ended up playing without the PSG fullback in the second half after he was forced off due to injury. Spain, which dominated the second half, sealed the victory in stoppage time, with Diogo Costa making key saves to keep Portugal in the game until Merino’s goal.
The path to the Round of 16
Portugal finished the group stage (Group K) in second place, with an inconsistent run: a 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a 5-0 rout of Uzbekistan, and another draw, 0-0, with Colombia. In the Round of 16, the team defeated Croatia 2-1 before facing Spain, which now advances to the quarterfinals, where it will face the winner of the match between the United States and Belgium.
The end of an era: Ronaldo and Martínez
At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo ends his World Cup run without the one major trophy that eluded him in a career filled with titles. The images of the Portuguese captain crying at the end of the game have become one of the symbols of this elimination. He arrives in the United States as one of the most decorated players in history and leaves without the title he had been chasing and was missing.
Roberto Martínez announced his departure as the national team’s head coach on the same day. The president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Pedro Proença, publicly acknowledged that the result fell short of expectations given the ambitions with which the team had entered the tournament.
How Lisbon experienced (and felt) the elimination
Throughout the 2026 World Cup, the Lisbon Football Arena, set up at Terreiro do Paço —a partnership between the Lisbon City Council and the Portuguese Football Federation, part of the “Pintar Portugal” initiative—served as the city’s main gathering spot to watch Portugal’s matches, featuring a giant screen and free admission right by the river. The square was packed for every group stage match, with thousands of fans singing the national anthem and Portuguese classics before and during the games. Other venues such as Fábrica Braço de Prata, Musa de Marvila, and Goalfest, in Parque do Vale do Silêncio (Olivais), complemented the city’s selection of giant screens throughout the tournament.
For the match against Spain, Terreiro do Paço was once again filled with flags and scarves, but the moment Merino scored—already in stoppage time—was met with silence and disappointment among the thousands of fans watching the game there. And so, between the euphoria of the group stage and the sudden silence of Monday night, Lisbon witnessed the end of the national team’s campaign.
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