Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain with a goal from Mikel Merino in the 90th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, played his last World Cup match after 20 years in the tournament.
Twenty years and 25 days after his World Cup debut, Cristiano Ronaldo played his final match in the World Cup. Portugal was eliminated by Spain (1-0) due to a goal from Mikel Merino in the 90th minute, in a match corresponding to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The Portuguese star, at 41 years old, retires from the tournament as the only player to have scored in six different editions, a record that is unlikely to be surpassed.
A farewell without prominence on the pitch
The forward did not achieve the prominence he sought in his farewell. He barely intervened in Portugal's offensive play, limited by the lack of explosiveness that characterised his younger years. The fans, however, chanted his name during the match, aware that they were witnessing the last dance of a legend.
Before the match, Cristiano had expressed his desire not to retire with a defeat. "I hope this isn’t my last match," he said at a press conference. But Merino's goal, when the match was heading for extra time, dashed his hopes.
The Portuguese player, visibly emotional at the end of the match, acknowledged that "I gave it my all" and that he leaves "with a clear conscience." However, the criticism of his performance and that of the Portuguese national team did not cease during the tournament, something he himself described as disproportionate: "Cristiano is not going to be more or less Cristiano for winning the World Cup," he had stated the day before.
A legacy of records and a bittersweet farewell
With 27 World Cup matches, 11 goals and 2,305 minutes on the pitch, Cristiano leaves an indelible mark. His debut was on June 11, 2006, in Cologne, against Angola, at the age of 21 wearing the number 17 shirt. Since then, he has participated in six World Cups, a milestone shared by only a few chosen ones.
However, the title of world champion eluded him. Messi, his eternal rival, achieved it in 2022; Cristiano is left without that crown. Despite everything, his legacy transcends trophies: he is the all-time top scorer in football history and a generational reference.
For the fan, Cristiano's farewell marks the end of an era. From his emergence at Sporting Lisbon to his establishment at Real Madrid, the Portuguese has marked a period. His retirement from the World Cup leaves a void that probably no other player will be able to fill.
What to expect after Portugal's elimination
The Portuguese national team, which arrived as one of the favourites after their title at the Euro 2016, is out in the round of 16. The coach will have to face a renewal process, with players like Bruno Fernandes or Bernardo Silva as potential leaders of the future.
For Cristiano, the immediate future involves continuing to compete at club level. At 41, his contract with Saudi Al Nassr extends until 2027, and he has not announced his retirement from professional football. But with the national team, his cycle seems closed. Portugal will need to find a new offensive reference for the next World Cup cycle.
The last image of Cristiano in a World Cup will be of a player who, despite the defeat, held his head high and received the affection of a fanbase that does not forget his feats. As he himself said: "I have given everything for my country."
You may also like
