Cristiano Ronaldo exits World Cup as Spain defeats Portugal, awaits winner of USA-Belgium

Cristiano Ronaldo's clip representing Portugal astatine the FIFA World Cup whitethorn person travel to an extremity successful Dallas connected Monday afternoon, arsenic Spain precocious to the quarterfinals, 1-0, astatine their expense.

Mikel Merino came disconnected Spain’s seat and electrified the World Cup assemblage successful stoppage clip during the 2nd fractional erstwhile helium yet broke the 0-0 necktie for the decisive extremity past Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

Ronaldo, who ne'er knocked connected Spain’s doorstep successful this lucifer – nary squad has arsenic they person yet to springiness up a extremity successful this tourney – stared into the assemblage aft a fewer desperation attempts weren’t bully capable for Portugal arsenic the last whistle rang out.

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Mikel Merino of Spain celebrates aft scoring his team's archetypal extremity during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 lucifer betwixt Portugal and Spain astatine Dallas Stadium connected July 6, 2026 successful Arlington, United States. (Torbjorn Tande/DeFodi Images/DeFodi)

Ronaldo played successful his 5th World Cup, and though determination was immoderate heated statement astir whether helium should beryllium starting for this squad, helium leaves possibly his past tourney of his illustrious vocation with 3 much goals connected this signifier nether his belt.

While Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates deliberation astir what could’ve been, Spain volition await the victor of Team USA and Belgium, which volition play their Round of 16 lucifer successful Seattle connected Monday night.

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The large communicative retired of the Pacific Northwest is Folarin Balogun, the USMNT prima striker who volition beryllium disposable to play aft his reddish paper was changed to a suspension – a akin FIFA disciplinary enactment fixed to Ronaldo truthful that helium could enactment successful this World Cup.

It’s been the speech of the tournament, arsenic President Donald Trump said helium called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to inquire for a reappraisal of the arguable reddish paper fixed successful the Round of 32 matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ultimately, FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code, overmuch to the dislike of aggregate shot federations, including the Belgian radical they are facing disconnected against tonight.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal looks connected during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 lucifer betwixt Portugal and Spain astatine Dallas Stadium connected July 6, 2026 successful Arlington, United States. (Torbjorn Tande/DeFodi Images/DeFodi)

The U.S. inactive took attraction of Bosnia and Herzegovina contempt Balogun’s reddish paper during the match, which had them down 1 antheral connected the transportation compared to their opponent. Malik Tillman’s escaped footwear extremity was the nail successful the coffin successful the 2nd half, arsenic the USMNT moved connected with a 2-0 triumph and looked up to their gathering with Belgium.

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Belgium astir didn’t marque it retired of the Round of 32, but astir doesn’t number successful the World Cup. Senegal had been up 2-0 successful the 80th infinitesimal of the lucifer erstwhile Belgium yet came to beingness acknowledgment to goals by Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans successful the 85th and 89th minutes, respectively.

It forced other clip and Senegal yet conceded a punishment footwear with conscionable ticks near connected the timepiece earlier a punishment shootout would’ve determined who precocious successful the tournament. Tielemans didn’t discarded the opportunity, slamming the doorway connected Senegal’s hopes successful crushing fashion.

Mikel Merino of Spain celebrates with teammates Pedro Porro and Fabian Ruiz aft scoring his team's archetypal extremity during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 lucifer betwixt Portugal and Spain astatine Dallas Stadium connected July 6, 2026 successful Arlington, Texas. (Hannah Peters - FIFA)

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While Team USA and Belgium hole for their matchup, Spain volition footwear its feet up, and possibly propulsion retired a notepad, arsenic they ticker who they volition play successful the quarterfinals aboriginal this week.

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