Cristiano Ronaldo's cycle in the World Cups has come to an end. Portugal's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup marked the farewell of the main figure of the Portuguese national team.
The cameras captured the 41-year-old forward with tears in his eyes, a lost gaze, and the captain's armband in hand as he silently walked down the path to the locker rooms. The image reflected the impact of the elimination and the closure of a World Cup journey that spanned six editions.
In the post-match press conference, Ronaldo acknowledged that he played his last World Cup, although he avoided anticipating a decision about his future at the club level.
"I leave with a clear conscience. This is football and it's part of a footballer's life. It was my last World Cup, but I will still have time to think about what I will do with my career," he expressed.
The forward emphasized feeling satisfied with the journey taken with the Portuguese national team and preferred to analyze the future once he processes the elimination.
During his statements, Cristiano made an unusual comparison by equating the importance of the Euro 2016, Portugal's first major title, with a World Cup.
The captain recalled that, before that conquest, the Portuguese national team had not achieved significant trophies and asserted that this achievement holds for him an equivalent value to that of a World Cup.
