Mikel Merino’s injury-time goal at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington brought a sudden end to Portugal’s 2026 World Cup and, moments later, to Roberto Martínez’s tenure as head coach. The Spanish midfielder latched onto a Ferran Torres through ball in the 91st minute, beating Diogo Costa to send La Roja into the quarter-finals and eliminate a Portugal side that had defended resolutely but created little. As the final whistle blew, Cristiano Ronaldo, who had confirmed this would be his last World Cup, wept on the pitch, while Martínez told reporters that his contract expired that day and he saw no reason to continue.

Martínez, appointed in January 2023, had guided Portugal to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals and the 2025 UEFA Nations League title, but the World Cup was his stated objective. “I came to Portugal to win the World Cup and I think that, without winning it, there’s no point in continuing,” he said. He described the defeat as “the end of a cycle” and argued that the Portuguese Football Federation should now choose a new voice. The 52-year-old Spaniard defended his decision to keep the 41-year-old Ronaldo on for the full 90 minutes, insisting the captain remained physically capable and that removing the team’s all-time top scorer while chasing a goal would have made no sense.

Across Southeast Asian media, the narrative centred on a shattered dream and Ronaldo’s tears, with headlines in Indonesia and Malaysia emphasising the emotional weight of the exit. European outlets, by contrast, focused on the tactical margins: Portugal’s disciplined defensive shape, the fine details that decided a tight contest, and the recurring criticism that Martínez’s side, despite its individual talent, lacked a coherent attacking identity. Spanish-language reports from Latin America and Spain itself framed the departure as the logical end of a cycle, noting that Martínez’s contract was always due to expire and that the federation president, Pedro Proença, would now appoint his own manager.

Martínez leaves after 45 matches in charge, having failed to deliver the nation’s first World Cup title despite a squad featuring Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão and Rúben Dias. Portugal had finished second in Group K behind Colombia, drawing with DR Congo and Colombia before thrashing Uzbekistan, then edged Croatia 2-1 in the round of 32. The loss to Spain, a team Martínez himself called “one of the favourites”, was decided, he said, by details such as a ball striking the woodwork or a quick free-kick in the 90th minute.

Attention now turns to the succession. Portuguese sports daily A Bola reported that Jorge Jesus, the 71-year-old former Al Nassr coach who worked with Ronaldo at club level, is the leading candidate to take over. Portugal will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Morocco, guaranteeing automatic qualification, but the immediate task is the UEFA Nations League campaign beginning in September. Ronaldo, while done with World Cups, has not yet confirmed his full international retirement, leaving open the possibility of one final tournament at Euro 2028.