FIFA World Cup: All to know as Ronaldo’s Portugal play Spain in the last 16
Cristiano Ronaldo just one of several key talking points before Portugal and Spain clash in Round of 16 epic in Dallas. The eyes of the
Cristiano Ronaldo just one of several key talking points before Portugal and Spain clash in Round of 16 epic in Dallas. The eyes of the football world will be on Dallas on Monday evening as one of the marquee match-ups of this or any World Cup pits European powerhouses Spain and Portugal together. The Iberian neighbours have been going at it for more than a century, meeting 43 times, including several in major tournaments, but this might just be the biggest of the lot, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake. Will Ronaldo start against Spain, and does he deserve to? Forget hydration breaks, VAR and the Golden Boot race, perhaps the biggest talking point of the World Cup so far is Cristiano Ronaldo’s involvement in the Portugal side. The 41-year-old came under the spotlight in the opening Group K match against DR Congo, playing every minute of a 1-1 draw, but spurning good opportunities to win the game. He answered the critics with a more accomplished display against Uzbekistan, scoring twice before the break to become the first man to register goals at six World Cups, but he might have added more in a 5-0 win in which he played the full game. After declaring ‘I’m back’ on social media after the game, Ronaldo was on the periphery as he played the full 90 minutes of the goalless draw against Colombia, which saw Portugal finish as runners-up in the group. There were flashes of the old CR7 in the chaotic win over Croatia which booked their last 16 place, seeing a fine dinked finish after some nice control disallowed for a marginal offside, then equalised from the penalty spot midway through the second half, however he was hauled off by Roberto Martinez on 81 minutes with the game in the balance. His initial reaction was frustration and reluctance, shaking his head and muttering words, but off he came. Goncalo Ramos replaced him as the focal point of the attack, then headed the stoppage-time winner. So should Martinez keep faith with Ramos for the Spain game, leaving Ronaldo in reserve as a potential impact substitute? It’s worth bearing in mind that Ronaldo was dropped for the last 16 clash against Switzerland in the last World Cup in Qatar by then-boss Fernando Santos. Ronaldo was unhappy at being substituted in the final group game shortly after the hour with the game locked at 1-1, which South Korea went on to win with a last-gasp goal.
Ramos scored a hat-trick in the 6-1 win over the Swiss, before being replaced by Ronaldo for the final 17 minutes when the score was already 5-1. The odds are heavily stacked that Ronaldo starts, and although he is a man for the big occasion, this Spain backline is formidable as it aims to keep an unprecedented sixth straight World Cup clean sheet. Expect Ronaldo to start through the middle, but Martinez has shown he is willing to sacrifice him in the pursuit of victory, so don’t bank on him finishing the game. History favours La Roja There has been little to separate Portugal and Spain in their five previous meetings at major tournaments, with each side winning once and the remaining three ending in draws. That includes their most recent World Cup meeting, a 3-3 draw in 2018 in which Ronaldo scored a sublime hat-trick, and their last knockout clash, a goalless draw in the semifinals of UEFA Euro 2012 before Spain progressed on penalties. Portugal, however, have won just one of their last 12 competitive meetings with Spain (D6 L5), that 1-0 victory coming more than 20 years ago in the group stages of the 2004 Euros, courtesy of Nuno Gomes. But they will take confidence from having defeated Spain, albeit in a shootout, in their most recent meeting in the Nations League final in June 2025. Portugal vs Spain prediction Ahead of kick-off, Luis de la Fuente’s side are predicted as heavy favourites – and for good reason. La Roja are unbeaten in their last 34 matches (W25 D9), one shy of equalling their longest-ever unbeaten run of 35 set between February 2007 and June 2009. Only Italy, with 37 between 2018 and 2021, have enjoyed a longer unbeaten run among European nations. Much of that success has come under De la Fuente, who is unbeaten in his first 11 matches at either the World Cup or Euros (W10 D1), conceding just four goals. Should Spain overcome Portugal, the Spaniard would join Aime Jacquet and Louis van Gaal as the only managers to avoid defeat in each of their first 12 major international tournament matches. Spain’s dominance has also extended well beyond their results. They have posted an average expected goals (xG) difference of +1.80 per game at this World Cup (2.0 for, 0.2 against) – the best by any European nation to progress beyond the group stage since France averaged +1.82 in 1998.
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