Following Portugal's 1-0 round-of-16 loss to Spain, Cristiano Ronaldo reflected on his sixth and final World Cup, stating he gave his best and remains secure in his legacy.
Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth and final World Cup came to an emotional end as Portugal suffered a 1-0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Mikel Merino scored a stoppage-time winner on Monday, July 6, 2026, to send Spain through and eliminate Portugal.
Despite being tearful after the match, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner insisted he remains secure in his legacy with his national team and has no regrets.
"Well, it's normal, sad, to leave the World Cup like this," Ronaldo said through an interpreter. "But, as I said yesterday at the press conference, I gave it my all, I gave my best. And I leave with a clear conscience. That's football, that's the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And it has to move on. It was my last World Cup, yes, but the rest … I have time to think, be with my family, not make decisions in the heat of the moment and move on with life."
Ronaldo finishes his career without a World Cup title or a World Cup final appearance, with Portugal's top run coming in his 2006 debut when the team reached the semifinals and finished fourth. Across his six World Cup appearances, Ronaldo scored 11 goals in 27 matches, joining Argentina's 39-year-old Lionel Messi as the only men to play in six World Cups.
Ronaldo achieved great success in the European Championships, scoring 14 goals in 30 matches and guiding Portugal to the 2016 title. "Before Cristiano, Portugal hadn't won any titles," Ronaldo noted. "So, I'm happy. The truth is that the biggest title I won with the national team was in 2016, which for me has the same significance as the World Cup, honestly."
Currently, Ronaldo is under contract for one more season with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he has spent the last four seasons. While the upcoming season may be his last, he has not yet confirmed his future plans.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Football. Photo courtesy The Hindu Football.