Portugal National Football Team

Mikel Merino scored in stoppage time as Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in Dallas, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup campaign

Ronaldo fails to make it through to the quarters as his final World Cup campaign ends tonight courtesy of Merino's late stoppage time winner.

On the eve of Portugal's Round of 16 showdown against Spain, the 41-year-old finally said the words the footballing world had long expected to hear.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first World Cup knockout goal before Goncalo Ramos headed Portugal into the last 16, where Spain await

Spain vs Austria (12:30 AM), Portugal vs Croatia (4:30 AM) and Switzerland vs Algeria (8:30 AM)

Fifa World Cup 2026 group K round of 32 qualification scenarios: Colombia are through; Portugal need a point, while DR Congo and Uzbekistan must win and rely on third-place calculations.

The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes failed to get the win for Portugal courtesy of a disciplined performance by the debutants Congo.

Football fans can watch the live streaming of Portugal vs Congo match on Zee5 by buying subscription of Rs 799 or Rs 1699.

Fifa World Cup 2026 June 17 fixtures (IST): France vs Senegal (12:30 AM), Iraq vs Norway (3:30 AM), Argentina vs Algeria (6:30 AM), Austria vs Jordan (9:30 AM), Portugal vs DR Congo (10:30 PM).

Portugal's confidence is further boosted by their status as reigning UEFA Nations League champions, underlining their recent success on the international stage.

The last time Cristiano Ronaldo faced Lionel Messi in an international football match was back in November. 2014 when both Argentina and Portugal played an international friendly at Old Trafford.

FIFA clarified that any comparable misconduct within the next year would automatically activate the remaining two matches of the ban.

Portugal will be without key attackers Pedro Neto and Pedro Gonçalves, who have returned to their clubs, Chelsea and Sporting CP, due to injury.

There were no major shocks in Roberto Martinez's squad selection, with João Cancelo the only notable absentee due to injury from the group named in September.

Ronaldo's strike also helped his side overturn an early deficit before João Cancelo's late winner sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory

Portugal, under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, have made a strong start to their qualification campaign, securing dominant victories over Armenia and Hungary.

Ronaldo completed his hat-trick for Al Nassr vs Rio Ave in the 68th minute on August 7, confidently converting from the spot before being substituted to a warm reception.

With the 40-year-old guaranteed to play till 42, this means that the fans' wish to see him don the Portugal shirt in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 still has a very high possibility of happening.

Luis de la Fuente is expected to rest Fabian Ruiz, who recently featured in the UEFA Champions League final. Pedri and Mar

Introduced in the 2018-19 season, the Nations League was designed by UEFA to replace many of the traditional international friendlies, aiming to create more competitive and meaningful fixtures.