Portugal experienced another agonisingly early departure from the FIFA World Cup, falling 1-0 to rivals Spain in the round of 16. A dramatic late winner from Mikel Merino ended the hopes of 41-year-old legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who was competing in his final tournament on football’s biggest stage.

In the immediate wake of the defeat, manager Roberto Martinez confirmed his resignation. Having taken the helm in 2023, Martinez stepped down, emphasising the team's need for a "new voice, a new leader".