Cristiano Ronaldo put an end to his history in the World Cups 7,330 days after having played his first minutes in a World Cup. Portugal’s defeat against Spain (1-0), with a goal from Mikel Merino in the 90th minute, marked the closing of a unique career: he is the only footballer in almost a century who has scored in six editions, although he leaves without the title that would have definitively placed him among the greatest.
“I hope it’s not my last game,” he had said the day before, between smiles and without hiding the uncertainty about his future. It wasn’t just about the trophy that Lionel Messi did get, its eternal rival, but of the fight against the passage of time. At 41 years old, thinking about a seventh World Cup already seems like a chimera. “Cristiano is not going to be more or less Christian for winning the World Cup”he stated then.
More than two decades after his debut, the forward says goodbye convinced that he fulfilled his promise. He considers that he did not do “so bad” as to become the target of criticism towards a Portuguese team that never reached the expected level despite the quality of its squad.
In the United States, however, the support of the fans remained intact. Cristiano continues to be a magnet for the public, who accompanied him in each stadium and waited for hours to see him up close, even though he no longer has the scoring pace of figures like Messi, Mbappé, Haaland or Kane.
In his last World Cup match he felt that support again. The stands chanted his name intermittently, although their participation was limited. Over the years he has reduced his radius of action: he knows that he no longer has the explosiveness he used to and waits for his opportunity within the area.
That opportunity never came. He left the World Cup without the prominence he was looking for, but with the feeling of having given everything. The farewell was bitter, defined by Merino’s goal when the game seemed headed for extra time.
That one is very far away June 11, 2006, when he made his debut in Germany against Angola. He was 21 years old and had number 17 on his back. More than 20 years have passed since then, a career that led him to play in six World Cups, with a total of 27 games, 11 goals and 2,305 minutes in the tournament.
The end came against Spain, the country where he built a good part of his legend. Cristiano Ronaldo says goodbye to the World Cup, leaving an indelible mark on the history of football.