Ronaldo's Final Dance
Spain Advances to Quarterfinals with Merino Goal, Portuguese Fans Lament Cristiano Ronaldo's Final Exit
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Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in the Euro 2024 quarter-final, with Mikel Merino scoring the decisive header deep into extra time. The result ended Portugal's tournament — and may have ended Cristiano Ronaldo's era at major international football. Diario de Ibiza reported that Portuguese fans in the stands did not hide their frustration, with chants directed at their own captain: 'No te queremos matar, pero ya basta' — 'We don't want to kill you, but enough is enough.'
Ronaldo, 39, failed to score and largely disappeared from the game. It was widely described as his last realistic chance to win a major trophy with Portugal. Levante EMV called it 'el último baile' — the last dance — of the all-time leading international scorer.
Merino's Late Header Shatters Portuguese Dreams
The match ended 0-0 after 90 minutes. Spain had the better of the game but could not break through. Then, in the 105th minute of extra time, Mikel Merino rose to meet a cross and headed the ball into the net. The goal sent Spain into the semi-finals and silenced the Portuguese supporters in the stadium. El Correo Gallego described Merino as Spain's 'talismán' — a charm who has now scored crucial late goals in multiple knockout rounds.
It was Merino's second goal of the tournament. Both came at critical moments. The Real Sociedad midfielder, often used as a substitute, has become one of Spain's most reliable impact players. His goal means Spain have now won four straight knockout matches at major tournaments without conceding.
Ronaldo Leaves the Stage to Boos and Frustration
Ronaldo struggled throughout the match. He missed chances, lost duels, and was isolated from the play for long stretches. When he was substituted late in extra time, there was no standing ovation — only the sound of a crowd that had grown tired of waiting. La Opinión de Murcia noted that Portuguese fans, long fiercely loyal to their captain, openly turned on him inside the stadium.
The chant 'No te queremos matar, pero ya basta' — heard in the stands after the final whistle — summed up a mood shift years in the making. Portugal has often built entire tournaments around Ronaldo. Critics argue that approach has cost the team. He finishes Euro 2024 with zero goals from open play. His only strike was a penalty in the group stage.
Portugal's Tactical Dependence on One Man Exposed
Coach Roberto Martínez built his Portugal side around Ronaldo's presence. That meant younger, faster attackers were often sidelined or asked to serve the veteran star. El Periódico de Aragón reported that analysts highlighted how Portugal's attack grew stagnant when Ronaldo did not perform. With him struggling, the team had no clear plan B.
Spain, by contrast, used a fluid system with no single superstar. Players like Merino, Dani Olmo, and Lamine Yamal all contributed at different moments. That flexibility gave Spain options when the game was tight. It is a direct contrast to Portugal's aging, Ronaldo-first approach that fans now seem ready to leave behind.
Spain March Into Semi-Finals With Momentum Building
Spain are now unbeaten in six matches at Euro 2024. They have scored 11 goals and conceded just one. Información reported that the team has used 20 different players during the tournament, showing depth that no other side has matched. Their next opponent in the semi-finals will be France or Belgium, who meet in the other quarter-final.
For Spain, this win is more than a result. It is proof that their generation — built around young talents and experienced midfielders — can go all the way. For Portugal, the post-Ronaldo question can no longer be avoided. A nation that once celebrated its golden boy is now ready, painfully, to move on.
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