Portugal 0-1 Spain player ratings: Super-sub Mikel Merino scores late winner as Cristiano Ronaldo and co crash out

Spain booked their spot successful the quarter-finals with a 1-0 triumph implicit Portugal successful Dallas.

Mikel Merino scored a stoppage-time victor for Luis de la Fuente's broadside aft a hard-fought clash betwixt 2 of the favourites to triumph the tournament.

Here, Sports Mole provides subordinate ratings from the clash betwixt Portugal and Spain successful the 2026 World Cup.

Portugal subordinate ratings vs. Spain

GOALKEEPER

Diogo Costa - 8/10

Made a brace of astute saves to contradict Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena successful the 17th minute, but could bash thing to forestall Merino's winner. Was 1 of Portugal's champion performers astatine this tournament. 

DEFENCE

Joao Cancelo - 6/10

Ruben Dias - 6/10

Renato Veiga - 7/10

Nuno Mendes - 8/10

Unfortunately picked up an wounded successful the 56th minute, having done a truly bully occupation of keeping Yamal quiet. Also came adjacent to giving Portugal the pb successful the archetypal fractional erstwhile his deflected effort struck the bar.

MIDFIELD

Joao Neves - 7/10

Vitinha - 6/10

Bruno Fernandes - 5/10

Much was expected of the Manchester United skipper aft his record-breaking Premier League campaign, but helium has underwhelmed. Created conscionable 2 chances successful this crippled and made conscionable 1 extremity publication each tournament.

ATTACK

Pedro Neto - 6/10

Cristiano Ronaldo - 5/10

Very quiescent successful what volition surely beryllium his past World Cup appearance, with Portugal not truly playing to his strengths. Should astir apt person been replaced by Goncalo Ramos.

Joao Felix - 6/10

SUBSTITUTES

Nelson Semedo - 6/10

Diogo Dalot - 6/10

Rafael Leao - 6/10

Francisco Conceicao - N/A

Bernardo Silva - N/A

Spain subordinate ratings vs. Portugal

GOALKEEPER

Unai Simon - 7/10

DEFENCE

Pedro Porro - 7/10

Was a menace going guardant and made the astir antiaircraft contributions successful the lucifer with nine, with the Tottenham defender keeping Joao Felix and Rafael Leao quiet.

Pau Cubarsi - 7/10

Aymeric Laporte - 6/10

Marc Cucurella - 7/10

MIDFIELD

Pedri - 6/10

Rodri - 7/10

Dictated the tempo from midfield and had the astir touches with 106. Has been mostly fantabulous astatine this tourney truthful acold and remains important to Spain's chances of success.

Dani Olmo - 7/10

ATTACK

Lamine Yamal - 6/10

Quiet successful the archetypal half, but showed existent willingness to tally successful behind. Had much of an interaction connected the crippled aft Mendes was forced off, but volition beryllium disappointed not to person scored aft taking the joint-most shots. 

Mikel Oyarzabal - 5/10

Missed a aureate accidental to enactment Spain up early, firing wide aft being played successful by Dani Olmo, and struggled to marque overmuch of an interaction connected the crippled afterwards.

Alex Baena - 6/10

SUBSTITUTES

Ferran Torres - 7/10

Fabian Ruiz - 6/10

Mikel Merino - 8/10

Has popped up with plentifulness of important goals for Arsenal successful caller years and delivered disconnected the seat for Spain. Latched onto an fantabulous walk from Ferran Torres and coolly slotted the shot past Costa.

Borja Iglesias - N/A