Ronaldo’s World Cup dream ends in tears

Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest to win the FIFA World Cup came to an emotional end after Portugal suffered a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the Round of 16.

Spain’s Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal in extra time eliminating Portugal and leaving the 41-year-old Ronaldo in tears after the final whistle.

Ronaldo had previously announced that the 2026 World Cup would be the final World Cup of his career. However, after the match, he said he would first consult his family before making a final decision on his international future.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 976 career goals and remains the only player to score in six different FIFA World Cup editions. Despite those remarkable achievements, he was never able to lift football’s biggest trophy.

His best World Cup finish came in 2006, when Portugal reached the semi-finals.

Throughout the tournament, Ronaldo’s regular place in the starting lineup drew criticism. Some analysts argued that his presence influenced head coach Roberto Martínez’s team selection despite Portugal having talented players such as Gonçalo Ramos, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, João Neves and Nuno Mendes.

Ronaldo scored three goals during the tournament but his overall performances also faced scrutiny.

Following the defeat, Martínez announced his resignation as Portugal’s head coach describing Ronaldo as a football icon who gave everything to achieve World Cup glory and set an outstanding example for younger players.