Barca World Cup Spotlight: Ferran Torres’ impressive cameo helps Spain beat Portgual
· Yahoo Sports
The quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are slowly taking shape, and they will have to do so without Portugal, who were knocked out by Spain last night.
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Spain against Portugal was always expected to be too powerful a clash to be taking place in the round of 16, and one of them was bound to suffer.
It was a tightly contested game with an open first half, in which both teams failed to score, and Portugal rather inexplicably sat back in the second.
Roberto Martinez’s side opted for a deep block, trying to stop Spain from creating chances, and they managed to keep them out until the 90th minute.
However, substitutes Ferran Torres and Mikel Merino combined to score the decisive goal for La Roja, who will now face Belgium in the quarter-finals.
From a Barcelona perspective, Pau Cubarsi, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Pedri and Dani Olmo played for Spain, while Joao Cancelo played for Portugal.
Let us see how the Spanish contingent and Cancelo fared on the night.
Pau Cubarsi vs Portugal
Pau Cubarsi has grown into a leader. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Spain edged the game where it mattered most, winning the xG battle 1.77 to 0.56, producing six shots on target to Portugal’s two, and creating three big chances to Portugal’s one.
Pau Cubarsi started at centre-back and once again looked like a teenager who has skipped several stages of normal development.
His value was not in headline moments. It was in calm defending, simple circulation and emotional control.
Portugal still had dangerous moments. Cristiano Ronaldo tested Unai Simon twice, Nuno Mendes hit the woodwork, and Portugal made 61 final-third entries.
Cubarsi had to stay switched on even when Spain had more of the ball. For Barcelona, the takeaway is obvious: he is already trusted in games where one mistake can end a World Cup.
Lamine Yamal vs Portugal
Lamine Yamal was the brightest Barcelona attacker on the pitch. The numbers back that up: three shots and seven progressive carries, constantly giving Spain an outlet on the right.
This was not Lamine at his most explosive, but that almost makes the performance more impressive.
Portugal did not give him much room, and yet he still stretched the game, forced defenders to retreat and helped Spain keep pressure around the box.
At 18, he is already being treated like a senior danger man.
Pedri vs Portugal
Pedri’s influence was limited. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Pedri had a quieter night by his standards, before being replaced by Fabian Ruiz in the 85th minute.
Still, not every Pedri performance has to look magical. In a game this tight, Spain needed patience and positioning as much as invention.
He was not the player cutting Portugal open, but he helped Spain stay connected through midfield and avoid turning the match into a transition contest.
Dani Olmo vs Portugal
Dani Olmo started as Spain’s central playmaker and was involved in some of their better first-half work.
He created a big chance, missed one himself and ended with an xA of 0.303 before the break. Olmo was useful without being decisive, and he was eventually replaced by Merino in the 85th minute.
From a Barça lens, this was a reminder of both sides of his game: he finds the right pockets, but Spain still needed someone else to deliver the final blow.
Ferran Torres vs Portugal
Ferran Torres came on in the 75th minute for Alex Baena and produced the action that changed everything.
That is the Spaniard’s value in its highest form. He does not always dominate games, and he can frustrate when the finish is missing, but his movement and timing keep giving him access to decisive moments.
Ferran Torres changed the game for Spain. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
His assist for Merino was not just a statistic, it was the pass that sent Spain into the quarter-finals.
Joao Cancelo vs Spain
Joao Cancelo, meanwhile, had a solid but painful night from the other side. He started for Portugal and was replaced by Diogo Dalot in the 71st minute.
This was a very recognisable Cancelo. He gave Portugal technical quality and progression from full-back, but the game never truly opened for him.
Spain’s control forced Portugal into scattered attacks rather than long spells where Cancelo could dictate from wide areas.
Overall, this was a strong Barcelona night because Spain survived the kind of match that usually defines tournaments.
Cubarsi looked composed, Lamine carried threat, Pedri and Olmo helped maintain structure, and Ferran delivered the decisive touch.
The only disappointment was Cancelo’s exit.