Portugal captain admits his group’s last-16 match in opposition to Spain was his final outing within the World Cup.
Revealed On 6 Jul 2026
Portugal ahead Cristiano Ronaldo’s closing World Cup ended with a Spanish sting within the tail, courtesy of Mikel Merino’s last-gasp winner that earned a 1-0 round-of-16 win, however he was unwilling to make a hasty name on his worldwide future.
Ronaldo instructed reporters within the blended zone on Monday that Spain loved “a little bit of luck” to attain by means of substitute Merino within the dying moments of a match he felt might have swung both method.
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“I’m unhappy to be leaving the World Cup like this,” he mentioned. “I gave it my all. I did my greatest, and I’m leaving with a transparent conscience. It was my last World Cup, sure, however I’ll now have time to replicate and be with my household. I received’t be making any rash choices.”
The 41-year-old stopped in need of confirming whether or not he had performed his closing recreation for Portugal, saying he didn’t need a private choice to overshadow the group’s marketing campaign.
“I don’t make choices within the warmth of the second,” he mentioned.
Ronaldo, who helped Portugal win the 2016 European Championship plus the Nations League in 2019 and 2025, mentioned he was pleased with his contribution to the nationwide group.
“I’ve received three titles for Portugal; earlier than Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal hadn’t received a single title,” he mentioned.
“The most important title the nationwide group has ever received was in 2016, the European Championship, which, to be sincere, is simply as vital to me as a World Cup.”
Portugal’s exit additionally got here with Roberto Martinez’s departure as supervisor, and Ronaldo provided heat phrases for the Spaniard.
“I cherished working with him,” he mentioned. “An important supervisor, an incredible human being, and what he’s performed for Portugal is to be counseled. I need to thank him and need him each happiness.
“It’s all the time unhappy to be knocked out of a serious match. It’s a World Cup. The group was actually coming into its personal. We performed properly, in my opinion. It might have gone both method, however that’s soccer. Now we have to choose ourselves up and keep it up.
“It’s irritating to exit like this, however we will maintain our heads excessive,” added the Al-Nassr ahead.
