During the afternoon of Monday, July 6, the selection of Spain allegedly put an end, in the city of Dallas, Texas, to Cristiano Ronaldo’s history in the World Cups. After 27 games and 11 goals, the forward Portuguese could have disputed his last meeting in a World Cupafter participating in six editions, at 41 years.
With a goal of Mikel Merino in the discount, the Red It changed the history of Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, who could not lead his team to the final of a World Cup. Although the Portuguese attacker knew it could happen, and acknowledged it at the press conference, after his tears after the end of the engagement.
The former Real Madrid player left the field with prideknowing that, at 41 years old, few can match his career. “I’m going to be honest with you: regardless of what happened, I leave here with the clear conscience“added Ronaldo, after having been consoled by the Spanish footballers, especially by Lamine Yamal.
Faced with this scenario, it seems that Ronaldo’s World Cup journey, which began in Germany 2006after his debut against the Angolan team in the city of Cologne, has definitively concluded. However, some suspect that, like the following World Cup will be disputed in Portugalthe star will do everything possible to be there.
Ronaldo leaves the door open
Although the Portuguese captain acknowledged that this was probably his last World Cup, he avoided confirming whether he will also end his career with the Portugal team, which in September will begin its path in the Nations League of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), where he will face Wales, Norway and Denmark.
After the match against Spain, the Portuguese star did not confirm if he will also put end point to his career with Portugal and explained that he prefers to take some time before making a final decision. Therefore, he noted that he first wants to analyze the situation calmly and talk to people. closest before defining your future.
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Faced with this situation, Ronaldo left open the possibility to continue wearing the Portugal shirt in future competitions, such as the Nations League. However, he explained that he does not consider it appropriate to announce a decision at this time, given that he does not want to divert attention from the result or the performance of his companions.
The future of Portugal’s all-time top scorer is expected to remain a unknown in the coming weeks, because the Portuguese team’s next match will be next Thursday, September 24, against Wales. Consequently, there is still time enough for Cristiano Ronaldo to analyze the possibility of returning.
Criticisms of Cristiano
According to what was stated by ESPNCristiano Ronaldo was the only forward who played more than 500 minutes in the 2022 and 2026 World Cups without successfully dribbling past an opponent. Therefore, on digital platforms they criticized harshly the performance of the Portuguese attacker in the last two World Cups, where Portugal did not measure up.
“He ego of Cristiano Ronaldo is so enormous who ends the 2026 World Cup talking about him in the third person, demeriting the football history of Portugal and equating the only Euro Cup it won with a World Cup,” concluded an Internet user, after the statements of the luso in which he mentions that the tournaments are the same.
@Christian 🐐✨#VaiDarPortugal | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ZMEKVMyS6j
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) July 6, 2026