Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo saw his FIFA World Cup dream come to an end after Portugal suffered a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the Round of 16, ending what he had previously described as his final World Cup campaign.
Spain secured victory through Mikel Merino’s decisive goal in extra time, sending Portugal out of the tournament. The 41-year-old Ronaldo was visibly emotional after the final whistle as his hopes of lifting the World Cup trophy came to an end.
Ronaldo leaves World Cup without the title
Before the tournament, Ronaldo had announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be the last World Cup of his career. However, after the match, he said he would first consult his family before making a final decision on his international future.
Ronaldo leaves the tournament with three goals and continues to hold the unique record of scoring in six different FIFA World Cups. Despite his remarkable achievements, he never won football’s biggest international prize.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 976 career goals, while Portugal’s best World Cup finish during his career remained the semi-finals in 2006.
Questions over Portugal’s team selection
Ronaldo’s regular place in the starting lineup was widely debated throughout the tournament.
Critics argued that his presence influenced head coach Roberto Martinez’s team selection despite Portugal having several established attacking and midfield options, including Gonçalo Ramos, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, João Neves and Nuno Mendes.
Following Portugal’s elimination, Martinez announced he was stepping down as head coach. He described Ronaldo as one of football’s greatest icons and praised his commitment to winning the World Cup and his influence on younger players
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