FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Day 3: A Legend Said Goodbye and a Complete Footballing Lesson

Ronaldo's Tearful Goodbye and Belgium's Demolition Job — Day 3 Was Unforgettable

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 has been full of drama from start to finish — and Day 3 delivered two of the most emotionally charged matches of the entire tournament. A 91st-minute Merino winner ended Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career in the most heartbreaking way possible. And Belgium gave the USA a 4-1 football lesson that nobody saw coming. Two matches. Two stories that will stay with football fans for a very long time.

Spain 1-0 Portugal: Ronaldo's 20-Year World Cup Journey Ends in Tears in Dallas at the Very Last Second

This was the match FIFA 2026 had been building toward since the draw was made. Spain against Portugal. The biggest Iberian derby in football history. And Cristiano Ronaldo — who told the world before kickoff that this would be his last ever World Cup — playing what turned out to be the final 90 minutes of his World Cup career in front of the whole planet.

For most of the match, neither side could break through. Diogo Costa was sensational in the Portugal goal — making two outstanding early saves to deny Lamine Yamal and Álex Baena before the match had properly settled. Ronaldo nearly made magic happen with an acrobatic bicycle kick in the first half that Unai Simón grabbed well. Nuno Mendes then fired a deflected ball that crashed against the crossbar — the whole stadium gasped. Portugal were defending deep and hanging on through sheer determination and some brilliant goalkeeping.

Spain pushed and pushed. Dani Olmo played Pedri through in the 57th minute — deflected over. Baena drove low and wide. Lamine Yamal curled a free kick that Costa tipped over. Spain had all the pressure and none of the goals.

Then the 91st minute changed everything. Substitute Ferran Torres received the ball on the left side of the box, kept his composure and slipped it hard and low across the six-yard box.

Substitute Mikel Merino made the perfect run between two Portuguese defenders, arrived at the near post at exactly the right moment and finished clinically into the bottom corner past Costa. 1-0. Final whistle seconds later.

Spain are into the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals for the first time since they won the tournament in 2010. And Ronaldo walked off a World Cup pitch for the very last time at 41 years old — shirt soaked, eyes red, teammates around him trying to offer comfort. He scored in six different World Cups. He gave 20 years to this tournament. His final chapter ended here in Dallas, beaten by a substitute goal in the last minute of a match he gave everything to.

Winbox Live gives every Malaysian fan exactly that — every FIFA 2026 match streamed completely free, no delay, no fees, no subscription needed. Watch every match live on Winbox now! The quarter-finals are coming — get set up before the next match starts.

Belgium 4-1 USA: Clinical Belgium Football Rewarded With Their Best World Cup Performance in Years

After the quiet tension of Spain vs Portugal, Belgium vs USA was the complete opposite — loud, chaotic and one-sided almost from the very first minute. Belgium were clinical, ruthless and completely in control from start to finish. The USA never found their footing and paid a heavy price for it in front of 68,000 home fans in Seattle.

Charles De Ketelaere — with both Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku starting on the bench — put Belgium ahead in just the 9th minute with a clever run in behind the USA defence and a calm finish past Matt Freese. One minute the crowd was expecting a USA party. The next they were quiet.

The USA hit back. Malik Tillman stepped up to a free kick from outside the box in the 31st minute and curled it beautifully over the wall and into the top corner. 1-1. Lumen Field came alive again. But one minute later — one minute — De Ketelaere was behind again, same trick, same finish, same goalkeeper beaten. 2-1 Belgium just 32 minutes in and the USA looked rattled.

The third goal was the most painful moment of the whole FIFA 2026 tournament for American fans. Belgium launched a deep ball from their own half in the 57th minute. Goalkeeper Matt Freese charged out to claim it — completely misjudged the flight — and the ball sailed right over him. Tim Ream scrambled back desperately but Hans Vanaken arrived first and tapped into the open net. 3-1. A nightmare moment for Freese in front of his own home crowd that the USA could not come back from.

Romelu Lukaku finished it off in stoppage time — a composed left-footed finish to complete the 4-1 win and end the co-hosts' FIFA World Cup 2026 dream in the most emphatic way possible. Belgium marched into the quarter-finals and will face Spain at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on July 10.

Spain vs Belgium. That quarter-final just announced itself as one of the must-watch fixtures of the entire tournament.

The Moments That Define a World Cup Only Feel Real When You're Watching Them on Winbox

Spain vs Belgium. Morocco vs France. Norway vs England. Argentina facing the Egypt vs Switzerland winner. Four quarter-finals. Every single one is a genuine World Cup classic waiting to happen.

This is the best moment to get fully involved. Winbox has raised the maximum stake to RM500,000 per bet for this entire FIFA World Cup 2026 period — bigger prize pool, more excitement and every quarter-final carrying even more weight whether you are a long-time football betting Malaysia player or just getting started with online football betting this World Cup.

The Rolex Submariner is still on the table. Place your bets through Maxbet, CMD368, or SBOBET on Winbox during this FIFA period and you are automatically entered into the running for a real Rolex watch — not a voucher, an actual watch. This is exactly why Winbox is the best online casino in Malaysia for online sports betting right now — free live streaming, Malaysia's biggest stake limits and real prizes all in one place.

Log in to Winbox and lock in your quarter-final picks.

New to Winbox? Register your free account now — five minutes and you are all set for the biggest week of FIFA 2026.

Round 16 Day 3 Is Done — But the Greatest Nights of FIFA 2026 Are Still Ahead of Us

Ronaldo's World Cup journey ended in tears in Dallas. Belgium gave the USA a harsh football lesson in Seattle. The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 is complete — and what comes next is going to be even better.

Whether you are watching for the love of football or following every match through your sport betting online picks on Winbox — the best nights of FIFA 2026 are still ahead. Stay locked in. Do not miss a single second.