Portugal’s journey in the FIFA World Cup 2026 came to a sudden and heartbreaking end last night. A 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16 sent the team home.
The result resonated far beyond the pitch. It deeply affected one of the sport's most famous fans, American streamer IShowSpeed.
Heartbreak at AT&T Stadium
The tense match was held at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. For nearly 90 minutes, the scoreboard remained empty. Spain controlled much of the possession. Portugal looked to strike on the counterattack.
As the game moved into stoppage time, a breakthrough finally arrived. Mikel Merino found the net in the 90th minute plus added time.
A Devastating Blow for IShowSpeed
Darren Watkins Jr., known to millions as IShowSpeed, watched the final moments live. He has built much of his career around his devotion to Ronaldo. He is famous for his "Siuuu" celebrations and travelling the world to see the Portuguese star play.
When the final whistle blew, the streamer could not hide his grief. He abruptly burst into tears in front of his audience. The reality of the elimination was personal for him. He had repeatedly told his viewers that he believed Portugal would lift the trophy.
This defeat marks the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career. He entered this tournament hoping to win the only major trophy missing from his collection. Spain’s late goal ended that ambition.
Speed reflected on his hope for the tournament while visibly emotional.He told his followers: “I thought they were gonna win it all… I swear to God, wallahi… I prayed… my prayers weren't answered”.
Ronaldo’s Legacy Remains
This is not the first time the streamer has been moved to tears by a Portugal loss. He had a similar reaction when the team was knocked out of Euro 2024. Despite the result, his support for Ronaldo appears unchanged.
Shortly after the match, Speed posted a tribute to the captain. He wrote: “Ronaldo still a goat no matter what. Thank you for everything”.
While Spain moves on to the quarter-finals, Speed and the rest of the Portugal fans are left to reflect on the end of an era.
