Ronaldo's World Cup dream ends in tears as Portugal loses to Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo's "last dance" at the 2026 World Cup concluded with tears of disappointment after Portugal's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16. The legendary forward, widely regarded as one of the greatest goalscorers, will leave the game without ever lifting the coveted World Cup trophy.

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It's normal to be sad when you lose. I gave my all, and this is football; sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Portugal's exit came in the dying moments of the match when Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal in second-half stoppage time. Ronaldo, who played the entire game and had three shots, expressed his sadness after the loss, stating, "It's normal to be sad when you lose. I gave my all, and this is football; sometimes you win, sometimes you lose."

Despite a career boasting over 30 club trophies, including five Champions League titles, and three national team titles with Portugal, the World Cup has eluded him. His best performance in the tournament was reaching fourth place in 2006. This tournament also saw him set records, including becoming the oldest player to start a World Cup match and being the first to score in six consecutive World Cups.

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This is my last World Cup.

However, Ronaldo faced criticism for his performance, with some commentators questioning his impact on the field. Portuguese football publication 'A Bola' suggested it was time to end "the era of Ronaldo that has lasted too long." While Ronaldo reiterated that this was his final World Cup, he left the door open for a potential return to the national team, stating he needed time to reflect with his family before making any hasty decisions.

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I need to spend time with my family and calmly think about the future. I will not make hasty decisions.

He emphasized his pride in his achievements with the national team, highlighting Portugal's three major titles, including the 2016 European Championship, which he considers on par with a World Cup. "Before us, Portugal had never won an international competition," he noted.

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We won three titles with the Portuguese national team. Before us, Portugal had never won an international competition. Winning Euro 2016 is the same level as the World Cup.