Cristiano Ronaldo, who concluded his FIFA World Cup journey in the Round of 16, expressed disappointment but emphasized his pride in his national team career.
On July 7, Portugal faced Spain in the Round of 16 of the 2026 North America World Cup at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, losing 1-0. After a scoreless 90 minutes, Portugal conceded the decisive goal in the first minute of stoppage time.
Following their quarterfinal finish in the 2022 Qatar tournament, Portugal's journey in this tournament ended in the Round of 16.
Ronaldo, who started the match and played the full 90 minutes, attempted three shots but did not register any points. As the final whistle blew, he was unable to hide his tear-filled eyes. His best World Cup performance remains the semifinals in the 2006 Germany tournament.
However, outside the stadium, he maintained his composure. According to Portuguese media outlet A Bola, Ronaldo stated after the match, "I am sad to leave the World Cup this way. But as I said in yesterday's press conference, I gave it my all and leave with a sense of relief. Tomorrow, I will rise with the same pride as today."
He also expressed strong pride in his achievements with the national team, saying, "I have played for the national team for 23 years and won three trophies. Before I joined, Portugal had not won a single trophy." He emphasized, "Among them, the UEFA Euro victory is the most important. Honestly, for me, the 2016 Euro win holds the same value as the World Cup."
Portugal won its first major tournament by defeating host nation France 1-0 in the final of the 2016 Euro Championship.
In a press conference the day before, Ronaldo hinted at retiring from World Cup participation after this tournament but refrained from confirming his complete retirement from international play. He remarked, "I won't make a decision in haste. Right now, it's not important whether I continue playing or not."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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