Cristiano Ronaldo will not win the World Cup. Knocked out by Spain in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, Portugal have left the competition after a narrow 1-0 defeat. It was a very painful exit for the Portuguese captain.
At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo was playing in his final World Cup. At the final whistle, the Al Nassr forward first tried to hold back his emotions, before finally breaking down on the pitch. In tears, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was comforted by his teammates.
Ronaldo confirms his final World Cup
With 233 caps and 146 goals for Portugal, Ronaldo therefore leaves the world stage without the one major trophy still missing from his immense list of achievements. After several attempts, the dream of lifting the World Cup has definitively slipped away.
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After the match, Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed that the 2026 edition was indeed the last World Cup of his career. Despite the disappointment, the Portuguese captain insisted he was leaving without regret. “It’s true that this was my last World Cup. I gave everything, I did my best, and I leave with a clear conscience. That’s the life of a footballer, you have to move forward,” said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Cristiano Ronaldo fights back tears after Portugal's elimination in what could be his final World Cup pic.twitter.com/Dvs3mdEhCp
— Vidol (@imVidol) July 6, 2026
Ronaldo has not yet announced what comes next for his international future. Asked about a possible presence until Euro 2028, the Portuguese forward preferred to take his time. “As for the rest, I will first talk about it with my family. This is not the time to make a decision in the heat of the moment,” he added. Portugal are therefore turning a huge page in their World Cup history. Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the tournament with tears in his eyes, but with the feeling that he gave everything for his country.
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