Portugal captain confirms his final World Cup appearance against Spain.
Published On 6 Jul 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16, though he emphasized his commitment to Portugal’s cause. The 41-year-old forward acknowledged Mikel Merino’s late goal as a fortunate turn of events but defended his team’s performance.
“Spain had a bit of luck,” Ronaldo stated. “The match could have gone either way. I gave everything I had, and I leave with pride.”
While avoiding explicit retirement talk, Ronaldo hinted at prioritizing family time moving forward. He praised his contributions to Portugal, including three major titles—the 2016 European Championship and two Nations League wins—which he described as historically significant for the nation.
Ronaldo also expressed admiration for departing manager Roberto Martinez, calling him “a great manager and human being” before urging Portugal to “pick themselves up and continue.”
