Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey ended with a 0-1 defeat against Spain in the last 16.
Spain’s Mikel Merino’s decisive goal in extra time knocked Portugal out of the tournament after 41-year-old Ronaldo couldn’t control his emotions and was seen on the pitch in tears.
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Ronaldo has previously announced that the 2026 World Cup will be the last global tournament of his career.
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However, after the match, he said that he will first consult with his family and then decide on his future in the national team.
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5-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has scored 976 goals in his career and is also the only player to have scored in six different World Cups.
However, he could not fulfill his dream of winning the World Cup. His best performance was when Portugal reached the semi-finals in 2006.
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Questions were also raised about Ronaldo’s continued participation in the tournament.
Critics said his presence influenced the selection of coach Roberto Martínez even though the team had talented players such as Goncalo Ramos, Bruno Fernandez, Vitenia, João Neves and Nuno Mendes.
Ronaldo scored three goals in this World Cup but his overall performance was criticized.
On the other hand, coach Roberto Martinez announced his resignation after the match and called Ronaldo a great icon of football and said that he worked hard to win the World Cup and became an excellent example for young players.
