Spain needed a late intervention to break Portugal in the FIFA World Cup round of 16, and it came from a familiar name to European football followers.

Substitute Mikel Merino scored in the 91st minute in Arlington, Texas, after Ferran Torres slipped a pass behind the Portuguese defence, sealing a 1-0 win and sending Spain into the quarter-finals.

The result also extended Spain’s run without conceding a goal, underlining a defensive record that has become one of the stories of the tournament.

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A pedigree forged across Europe

Merino, whose full name is Mikel Merino Zazón, is a Spanish international who plays as a midfielder or striker for Arsenal and the Spain national team.

He was born in Pamplona on 22 June 1996 and is listed by the Premier League as an Arsenal midfielder. Across his career, he has moved through Osasuna, Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United and Real Sociedad before joining Arsenal in 2024.

Those club stops helped shape a player who is valued for timing, movement and late-box arrivals, traits that were on display again against Portugal.

Once more unto the breach, Merino answers

This was not the first time Merino has delivered a decisive knockout-stage goal for Spain.

At Euro 2024, he scored in the final moments of extra time to give Spain a 2-1 win over hosts Germany in the quarter-finals, a goal described as coming “in the last moments of extra time.” That strike was one reason he entered the World Cup with a growing reputation as a high-value big-match contributor.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente had already said before the tournament that Merino, along with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, was among the key players whose fitness would matter as Spain tried to manage a demanding schedule across three host nations.

Spain march on with admirable composure

Spain’s victory keeps them on track in a tournament where they have combined control with efficiency, and Merino’s goal will strengthen the case for him as one of the squad’s most reliable impact players.

Spain will face either the United States or Belgium in the quarter-finals, while Portugal’s exit has intensified questions around Cristiano Ronaldo’s international future.

For Spain, though, the night belonged to Merino. A late runner, a calm finish and another decisive goal on one of football’s biggest stages.

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FAQs

Q1: Who is Mikel Merino?

Ans: Mikel Merino is a Spanish international footballer who plays for Arsenal and the Spain national team, primarily as a midfielder.

Q2: Why is Mikel Merino in the news?

Ans: Mikel Merino made headlines after scoring the stoppage-time winner that helped Spain defeat Portugal 1-0 and reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.