Portugal's shocking elimination from the 2026 World Cup has led to widespread criticism of head coach Roberto Martínez. The team lost to Spain 0-1 in a tense match held in Dallas, with Mikel Merino scoring the decisive goal in the dying moments of the game. This defeat not only ended Portugal's campaign but also marked the conclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo's illustrious international career, having played 233 matches for his country.

As the final whistle blew, major Portuguese media outlets were quick to express their disappointment. A Bola, a leading sports newspaper, pointed to Martínez's management, stating, "Portugal is paying the consequences of Martínez's mistakes and is eliminated from the World Cup." This sentiment was echoed by Correio da Manhã, which lamented, "The dream is over. Portugal loses to neighboring Spain and fails to qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup 2026." Desporto ao Minuto reiterated this, noting that Portugal's goal of progressing further in the tournament was not achieved.

The historical context of this defeat was highlighted by Expresso, which recalled Portugal's previous exit in the 2010 World Cup at the hands of Spain in the same round. This time, the situation was exacerbated by the injury of Nuno Mendes, who had been one of the standout players of the tournament. His departure from the field marked a turning point, as Portugal struggled to regain momentum.

Critics were particularly harsh, with Sol labeling the performance as "Disappointing," emphasizing the paradox of a team featuring four European champions and the all-time leading goal scorer in football, yet managing to win only one match in the group stage. Público took a more ironic approach, suggesting that Portugal "took a nap" during the match, while Dnoticias.pt opted for a straightforward report: "Portugal eliminated from the World Cup. Portugal lost (0-1) against Spain in the round of 16. The goal was scored by Mikel Merino in the 90th minute."

As the dust settles on this disappointing chapter, the Portuguese team faces questions about its future and the direction under Martínez's leadership. Meanwhile, Spain advances to the quarter-finals, awaiting the winner of the match between the United States and Belgium.