Merino: I will never take this kind of joy for granted, as it helped Spain advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.

In a crucial Round of 16 match at the 2026 World Cup, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 after a late goal from Arsenal midfielder Merino, securing their place in the quarterfinals. Merino stated after the match that he would never take such joy for granted and was happy to bring joy to the fans.

In the second half stoppage time, Spain launched a free kick attack, and Merino received a through pass from Ferran Torres and scored with a low shot, giving Spain a 1-0 lead.

Ultimately, Spain defeated Roberto Martinez's Portugal 1-0.

It's worth mentioning that in January of this year, during Arsenal's home Premier League match against Manchester United, the 30-year-old Merino suffered a foot fracture, requiring surgery and causing him to miss approximately four months. After a period of rehabilitation, Merino finally returned to the field at a crucial stage and helped Arsenal win the Premier League title.

When asked about his previous injury, Merino said in an interview, "Life has its ups and downs, good times and bad times. When the doctor told me about my injury, I thought I wouldn't be able to participate in the World Cup. But now, I'm standing here."

"I will never take this kind of joy for granted. It was an incredibly exciting game, and it feels wonderful to be able to bring this joy to fans in every household."

Merino also shared, "The coach told me to be myself and play as a number 10. I know what he expects me to do on the pitch. Fortunately, I can contribute more to the team besides scoring goals."

Furthermore, Spain's head coach, De la Fuente, stated, "It was truly a spectacular match, a final before the final, and as we expected, we fought until the very last moment. It was a very complete game, and the players who truly decided the outcome were the substitutes."

“I told Merino to just play his usual way. His role is to connect the midfield and the forwards. Bringing him on was to inject the rhythm and energy the team needs.”

De la Fuente added, "The impact of our substitutes is top-notch, which is precisely because we have 26 very talented players."

Image source: Internet