Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest to win the FIFA World Cup came to a heartbreaking end after Portugal suffered a dramatic 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16, bringing the legendary forward’s World Cup career to a close.
The 41-year-old, who had confirmed before the tournament that the 2026 edition would be his final World Cup, was left in tears after Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner in Dallas sent Spain into the quarter-finals and ended Portugal’s campaign.
For Ronaldo, it marked the end of one of football’s greatest international journeys. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner bows out as the only player to score in six different FIFA World Cups, adding another remarkable achievement to a career that includes five UEFA Champions League titles, the UEFA Euro 2016 crown and a world-record 976 senior goals for club and country.
Despite those extraordinary accomplishments, the World Cup remained the one major trophy that eluded him. His closest opportunity came in 2006 when Portugal reached the semi-finals in Germany, but two decades later he leaves the global stage without lifting football’s most coveted prize.
Speaking after the match, Ronaldo stopped short of confirming his retirement from international football.
“I will meet the family and take decisions with a calm head,” he said when asked about his future with Portugal.
The defeat has also intensified scrutiny of Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez, who opted to start Ronaldo in every match despite persistent debate over whether the veteran striker should still lead the line.
BBC pundit Chris Sutton delivered a scathing assessment of Portugal’s approach, arguing that Martinez’s loyalty to Ronaldo ultimately cost the team.
“He’s waddling around the field like a grandad, that’s why Portugal are out,” Sutton said.
“Cristiano Ronaldo did nothing. What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you pander to a player so much? Portugal are out because of Roberto Martinez.”
Martinez, who announced he would step down after the defeat, defended his decision to keep faith with the Portuguese icon throughout the tournament.
“We need to thank him for what he tried to do at this World Cup,” Martinez said.
“His dream was to win this World Cup, and he pursued it with an amazing example. He is a prime example of football and the human being behind the athlete.”
The debate over Ronaldo’s role has followed Portugal through several major tournaments. While he remains the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 146 goals, questions have increasingly been raised about whether his presence limits a squad blessed with younger attacking talent.
Portugal’s squad featured several UEFA Champions League winners, including Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, João Neves and Gonçalo Ramos, alongside Premier League Player of the Year Bruno Fernandes. Yet the team exited the tournament in the first knockout round despite being considered one of Europe’s strongest sides.
Ronaldo finished his final World Cup with three goals—scoring twice against Uzbekistan and once from the penalty spot against Croatia. He also registered 18 shots during the tournament, matching the total of Golden Boot contender Erling Haaland. However, he created just one chance for a teammate across five matches and ranked outside the tournament’s top 350 players for touches despite playing almost every minute of Portugal’s campaign.
Martinez insisted Ronaldo’s experience remained invaluable.
“When you need a goal you cannot take Cristiano off, at least in 90 minutes. He is physically capable. His presence, ability to create space, dead-ball situations and experience are all important.”
While Portugal’s World Cup campaign ended in disappointment, Ronaldo leaves behind an international legacy few players in football history can match. Although the World Cup trophy ultimately escaped him, his achievements across more than two decades have firmly secured his place among the greatest footballers the game has ever produced.
