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Spain secures Nations League quarter-finals; Messi bids farewell to Argentina

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 7, 2026, 7:16 AM

Last updated Oct 7, 2026

Spain secures Nations League quarter-finals; Messi bids farewell to Argentina

Summary

On October 7, Spain's senior team qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Croatia, thanks to a decisive late goal from Mikel Merino. In a historic match, Leo Messi played his final game for Argentina, contributing a goal and two assists in a 3-0 win against Benin. The Under-21 team of Spain also qualified for the European Championship by defeating Romania 6-1, highlighted by a hat-trick from Pablo García. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo publicly criticized coach Jorge Jesus after departing Portugal’s training camp over broken promises. The rivalry for young prospect JJ Gabriel intensifies as both Real Madrid and Barcelona prepare competitive offers for the Manchester United player.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Spain defeats Croatia 2-1 to qualify for Nations League quarter-finals.
•Leo Messi plays his last match for Argentina, scoring against Benin.
•Spain's Under-21 team wins 6-1 against Romania to secure European Championship spot.
•Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Portugal training amid tensions with coach Jorge Jesus.
•Real Madrid and Barcelona aim to sign young prospect JJ Gabriel.

Latest Updates

7:16 AMYahoo Sports — 🥐 Unstoppable Spain, farewell to Leo: Wednesday’s 5️⃣ stories

What they're saying

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The football action on October 7 brought qualification for Spain's senior and Under-21 teams, Leo Messi's emotional farewell to Argentina, controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo, and the battle for...
— Yahoo Sports

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