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Spain international Mikel Merino continued to establish his reputation as one of the most decisive players in the moments that make the difference.
The Spain star confirmed his brilliance at major tournaments when he scored the 91st-minute winner against Portugal at FIFA World Cup 2026 to send La Roja into the quarter-finals on Monday night.
It wasn’t the first time Merino had made his mark in the dying minutes, having previously scored a historic 119th-minute goal against Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, confirming his enduring ability under pressure.
Merino also entered the history books after becoming the first player from Spain to score in the round of 16 at the World Cup since David Villa, who scored against Portugal on June 29, 2010, as Spain won their only World Cup title, according to Statsfoot.
To that end, Merino regained the success that had been absent from the Spanish national team for 16 years, cementing his status as one of La Roja’s most popular figures at crucial moments.
