Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey came to an emotional end as Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16. The match. Which marked Ronaldo’s sixth and final World Cup appearance, saw Mikel Merino score the only goal in stoppage time after coming on as a substitute, while Spain will now face either the United States or Belgium in the quarterfinals, according to ESPN.

Final Moments and Missed Chances

Spain’s victory came after a tense and tightly contested match that seemed ready for extra time; In the 90th minute, Ferran Torres delivered a cross to Merino, who calmly finished past Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Earlier in the match. Portugal had several opportunities to take the lead, and Mikel Oyarzabal missed a golden chance, and Ronaldo, who had declared this his final World Cup appearance, saw his efforts denied by Unai Simón.

Ronaldo had three shots in the game, with his best chance coming in the 37th minute when he nearly converted a rebound from a João Félix shot. Simón, however, made a critical save, jumping back into the net from out of bounds to deny Ronaldo, as Ronaldo’s second-half involvement was limited to just seven touches, the fewest in any World Cup match of his career, according to ESPN.

Legacy and Records

Ronaldo, who has won the UEFA Champions League five times and holds the record for most goals and assists in the competition, ends his World Cup career with no major international title. Despite leading Portugal to the Euro 2016 title, a World Cup victory has eluded him — With 976 career goals, he is the all-time leading goal scorer in men’s football according to The Spokesman-Review.

Ronaldo’s emotional farewell to the World Cup stage came with tears after the final whistle, as he was comforted by teammates. His career with the Portuguese national team began at the 2006 World Cup and now concludes with the same disappointment he has faced in previous World Cup appearances, according to OneFootball.

Bittersweet Exit

The loss to Spain was particularly painful for Portugal given the rivalry and the timing of the goal; Merino’s strike came just minutes after Ronaldo had two chances to put Portugal ahead. In both instances, Ronaldo raced to the ball but came up short, showing his age and limitations in the closing stages of the match according to The Spokesman-Review.

Spain’s win was a combination of defensive resilience and late attacking brilliance. Portugal had several near-misses, including a deflected shot from Nuno Mendes that hit the crossbar. Despite a lack of clear chances in the second half, Spain managed to break through with a decisive goal from the bench.

Ronaldo’s final World Cup appearance saw him with 19 total touches—12 in the first half and only seven in the second. He did not touch the ball after the 80th minute, marking a quiet end to a legendary international career. His six World Cup appearances have all ended without a major title, a bittersweet conclusion to a storied international career.