Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, could have played his last game for his country.
This follows their 1-0 defeat to Spain in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup on Monday night.
Spain laboured to an uninspiring victory over their Iberian rivals, to set up a quarter-final meeting with the winners of USA vs Belgium.
In an underwhelming game that failed to live up to billing in Dallas, Merino proved decisive, arriving late from the bench and latching onto a smart Ferran Torres pass to plant beyond the clutches of Diogo Costa in second-half stoppage time.
Cristiano Ronaldo revealed before the game that this summer marks his last appearance at a World Cup. The Portugal captain was visibly emotional at the close, knowing his side failed to properly show up for his final farewell tour.
