Ronaldo Bids Farewell to World Cup After Portugal's Elimination by Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that his participation in World Cup tournaments has come to an end, following Portugal's elimination at the hands of Spain in a Dallas match.

Speaking to Sports TV immediately after the match, the Portuguese captain expressed measured emotions about his departure from the competition. "I am fine, and sad to leave the World Cup in this way," he stated. "But, as I said yesterday in the press conference, I gave my best and I leave with a clear conscience."

Ronaldo reflected on the unpredictable nature of football in remarks carried by FIFA's official website. "This is the life of a football player. Sometimes we win and other times we lose and we have to move forward. The truth is that it was my last tournament in the World Cup, and now I will spend some time with my family so that I do not make decisions in a moment of emotion."

The 41-year-old striker emphasized the significance of his accomplishments for his country. "I will wake up tomorrow with a clear conscience. I have won three titles for Portugal, the European Nations Championship title and two European Nations League titles. Before Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal had not won any titles at all. Therefore, I leave with a clear conscience after giving everything I have. Tomorrow will be a new day, and life goes on."

Ronaldo's World Cup journey spanned five tournaments across four decades, beginning with South Africa in 2010, followed by Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022. His final appearance came at the 2026 competition.

The forward made a historic mark during Portugal's second match of this year's tournament, becoming the first player ever to score in six different World Cup editions when he netted against Uzbekistan. Over his World Cup career, Ronaldo appeared in 27 matches—the second-highest number of appearances in tournament history—and scored 11 goals.