What happened: Cristiano Ronaldo has played his final match for his country following a 1-0 Round of 16 defeat. Mikel Merino provided the decisive 91st-minute strike in Dallas to end the tournament for the Portuguese squad.

Why it matters: The exit formally closes a two-decade tenure that redefined global scoring standards. It forces a complete generational reset for the national program as they move away from an attack centered around their 41-year-old captain.

What to watch: The federation will now begin its rebuilding phase ahead of upcoming qualifying cycles.