Portugal out as Merino strikes late and Ronaldo's World Cup ends

Merino's late strike knocks Portugal out

Spain 1–0 Portugal. A 93rd-minute header from Mikel Merino ended your World Cup in the round of 16 (1) (2). The Athletic Bilbao midfielder came off the bench and met a cross at the far post with almost the last touch of the game in Dallas (2).

Portugal created little. No spark in attack. A tense, scoreless night dragged toward penalties and then Merino arrived (1) (2) (3).

Cristiano: "This was my last World Cup"

Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed it after the final whistle, this was it (1) (6). The 39-year-old led the team out for warm-ups as always, but cut a lonely figure when the screen caught him in tears (1). Applause and whistles mixed in the stadium (1).

He did not go quietly. "The 2016 Euros is worth as much as a World Cup," Ronaldo told reporters, a line that has already split opinion (4).

Martínez is gone

Roberto Martínez did not wait for the debrief. "It was my last game with the Portuguese national team," he said immediately after the match (1) (4). The Spaniard arrived to win a World Cup and leaves with a round of 16 exit (1).

One detail stings. Martínez is known to be superstitious about the number six. Portugal went out on the 6th day of the 7th month, to Spain's number 6, Mikel Merino (6).

Nine players leave camp early

Six players left the squad on the night of the defeat. Three more departed before the flight home. Nine of your called-up players will not be on the plane back to Lisbon (1) (3) (5).

The Seleção returns home Wednesday, a squad already scattered (1) (5).

Fan reactions

The mood among Portugal supporters is raw. One Reddit thread tracking round of 16 exits noted Portugal as the only UEFA side eliminated at that stage, a conference that was otherwise dominant. Another post from a Ronaldo and Madrid fan called the last 24 hours "unbelievable," linking Portugal's limp exit to what they described as a chaotic Argentina match, and asking whether the love for the game is fading.

Eliminations after the round of 16, by confederation