Merino Blasted Online After Knocking Portugal Out
Spanish midfielder Miguel Merino sparked online outrage after scoring in the 90+1st minute to eliminate Portugal from the 2026 World Cup, with his Instagram posts mocking Cristiano Ronaldo drawing fierce criticism.
Spanish midfielder Miguel Merino faced a barrage of hostile comments on Instagram after scoring the winning goal that eliminated Portugal from the 2026 World Cup Round of 16. Merino played the hero by netting in the 90+1st minute, giving Spain a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the knockout stage match on July 6. The goal also marked the final World Cup match of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's career. After the match, Merino came under fire on his personal Instagram for aggressive posts containing inflammatory language. His comments included comparisons of Ronaldo's cleats being worth more than the player himself, calling him the most hated player in football history, suggesting he was Messi's spy, posting middle-finger emojis, and other abusive remarks.
