Portugal 0-1 Spain - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Ronaldo sent packing in sleep-inducing affair as Spain advance (just)

Portugal and Spain appeared like one of the most tasty fixtures we would get to see at any point across the entirety of the World Cup, in reality it couldn't have been further from that.

Spain were the better team, just, but neither of the two were even close to looking like a side you'd think could go all the way and win the tournament.

The European champs just about got over the line courtesy of a late Mikel Merino goal, but the game was nothing to write home about let's put it that way.

Portugal 0-1 Spain as it happened

It was the European Champions who got on the front foot early doors. The in-form Oyarzabal had the first shot on goal but it was a pretty comfortable stop for Diogo Costa in the Portuguese net.

Oyarzabal also saw the second chance of the game fall to him, this one much more concrete. A clever ball inside by Alex Baena was received by Dani Olmo who slipped a first time pass through to Oyarzabal through on goal. The Spain striker could only slide his effort wide of the post though, big chance squandered.

Spain again had chances in the 15th minute. A quick break saw Lamine Yamal receive in space before cutting inside and curling toward the far corner, but Costa was once again equal. His save only fell as far as Baena on the edge of the box, though, who looked to pick out the far corner but was denied by an excellent full-stretch save by the Porto keeper.

Portugal really struggled to get ahold of the game and create anything of note whilst Spain continued to look threatening. Martinez's men threatened on a couple of occasions through long raking switches of play by Nuno Mendes, but it was all rather easily combatable by Spain's backline.

Portugal's best chance before the half came in the 40th minute. Spain switched off from a short corner allowing Mendes to strike at goal, the effort cannoned off the head of Pedro Porro before bouncing off the bar and out for a corner.

**Half time: Portugal 0-0 Spain

Portugal began the half in better fashion, but there was still a distinct lack of clear cut chances for either side and the ever present lull in any real action continued.

So much so was the lack of of action in the game that I stuck the England highlights from last night on again, just to feel something really...

A 10 minute period from the 75 to 85 brought a few half chances here and there, but again neither side looked much like they were going to break the deadlock and the game looked destined for extra time.

But, as the board went up to signal six minutes of added time, finally, Spain struck. A lovely little interchange in the Portuguese funal third saw Ferran Torres flick a lovely reverse ball into the path of the onrushing Mikel Merino who slotted past Costa to makw the score 1-0 and put Portugal on the brink of elminiation.

The goal prompted Portugal to finally at least try and play some football that would break Spain down - but alas, they failed.

Bernardo Silva had the biggest chance with a rising header at the back post that skipped agonisingly off the roof of the net, he probably should have scored.

As the referee sounded the final whistle you couldn't help feeling that Portugal will be unfathomably disappointed they didn't try more at any point across the 90 minutes. Especially Cristiano Ronaldo, who was barely involved at all in what will likely be his last ever World Cup game.

But, for the reigning European Champions, they did exactly what they had to do, no matter how ugly it may have been.

Portugal player ratings

Costa - 7

Mendes - 7 Veiga - 6 Dias - 6 Cancelo - 6

Neves - 6 Vitinha - 5

Neto - 5 Fernandes - 5 Felix - 7

Ronaldo - 5

Substitutes Semedo (56') - 6 Dalot (71') - 5 Leao (71') - 5 Silva (83') - 5 Conceicao (83') - 5

Spain player ratings

Simon - 6

Porro - 7 Cubarsi - 6 Laporte - 6 Cucurella - 6

Pedri - 6 Rodri - 6

Baena - 5 Olmo - 7 Yamal - 5

Oyarzabal - 6

Substitutes Ferran (75') - 7 Ruiz (85') - 6 Merino (85') - 7

Man of the Match: Mikel Merino

I never like just giving the man of the match to a goalscoring substitute, but literally nothing else happened to justify me giving it to anyone else.

Dani Olmo was probably the closest of those who started, but the immense impact of a late goal off the bench to send your coutnry through can't be underestimated and for that reason, Merino gets it.