Cristiano Ronaldo helps Spain set World Cup record that may never be broken

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Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Spain now hold the outright record for the most consecutive clean sheets in World Cup history following their narrow 1-0 win over Portugal in the last-16 on Monday.

Mikel Merino’s stoppage time strike was enough to send the reigning European champions into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since they won the tournament in 2010, and they will face Belgium in the next round after Rudi Garcia’s side swept aside co-hosts USA 4-1.

After being knocked out in the last-16 in both 2018 and 2022, Spain avoided the same fate on Monday, with super sub Merino grabbing a last-gasp winner, and they are strong favourites to progress into next week’s semi-finals.

In the process of their win over Portugal, Spain have now kept six consecutive clean sheets at the World Cup, dating back to their 0-0 draw against Morocco in 2022 - which ended in penalty shootout heartbreak.

Previously, Spain were tied with Italy (1990) and Switzerland (2006-2010) on five clean sheets in a row at the World Cup, but they are now the outright holders of the record on six, which may prove extremely difficult to ever beat.

Goalkeeper Unai Simon has been present for all six matches and he has now gone 609 minutes without conceding a goal at the World Cup - a new record. He has also only been forced to make six saves at the 2026 tournament so far, with a 100% success rate.

Against Portugal, Spain faced just three shots on target as Cristiano Ronaldo once again failed to make his mark in a World Cup knockout game.

He has only scored one knockout goal at the World Cup, which came from the penalty spot against Croatia last week, and he has confirmed that he will not play in 2030, meaning he will end his career without an open-play goal in the World Cup knockouts.

What has Cristiano Ronaldo said?

Despite Portugal’s exit, and the fact he won’t be able to match Lionel Messi’s achievement of a World Cup win, Ronaldo said: “I’ve won three titles with Portugal. Before Cristiano, Portugal won nothing.

“The biggest title I won with the National Team was Euro 2016... For me, Euro has the same value as a World Cup. That remains forever. Tomorrow is a new day, and we go”.

“I will wake up tomorrow the same as I did today, with a clear conscience, because I gave my best for Portugal.

“I won three titles with Portugal, before me it was zero titles. I can only be happy.”