At 41 years old, Ronaldo had previously announced that this would be his last World Cup.
The match ended 0-0 after regular time, with both teams playing cautiously. However, during stoppage time, Fabián Ruiz found Ferran Torres, who then passed to Merino. The substitute finished low past goalkeeper Diogo Costa to secure the win for Spain.
????????: Cristiano Ronaldo: “I didn’t cry because I thought I let Portugal or my family down. I cried because I put immense pressure on myself. I scored the last 27 penalties, then to miss this one, I felt that I let myself down.”
VIDEO ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/swA80p4aGw
— Culers Pro (@CulersPro) July 6, 2026
After the goal, Portugal tried to find an equalizer. Bernardo Silva, another substitute, narrowly missed with a header and also won a free kick deep into stoppage time, but they couldn’t convert. The final whistle marked Portugal’s exit and Spain advancing to the quarterfinals against the winner of the USA-Belgium match.
Ronaldo’s Night: Three Shots, Two On Target, No Goal
Ronaldo attempted three shots on goal, with two hitting the target. Both efforts were saved by Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simón, who made an impressive catch while airborne and also stopped a backward kick attempt from Ronaldo following a header from João Félix.
In total, Portugal took 10 shots, but only two were on target, both from Ronaldo. Spain controlled possession and had more opportunities but struggled to create clear scoring chances until they netted the winning goal.
Ronaldo Breaks Down, Then Speaks With A ‘Clear Conscience’
As the match concluded, Ronaldo appeared overcome with emotion, shedding tears on the pitch. He later addressed reporters looking more composed, briefly covering his eyes with his hand.
“Sad — it’s normal after being eliminated like this,” he shared.
“I’ve given everything, I’ve given my best, and I leave with a clear conscience,” he expressed. “This is soccer, this is life for a soccer player. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.”
Prior to the game, Ronaldo had expressed a wish for it not to be his last and hoped to fully enjoy the tournament. Afterward, he confirmed it was indeed his final World Cup, although he has not announced if he will retire from international play altogether.
“Yes, it was my last World Cup, but everything else I’ll have time to think about, to be with my family, and I won’t make any hasty decisions as I move forward with my life,” he stated.
Martinez Hails Ronaldo As ‘A Football Icon’
Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martínez, commended his captain following the match.
“He is an example, a role model to follow. This is someone we need to celebrate. We’re talking about a football icon,” Martínez remarked. “There aren’t many Cristiano Ronaldos out there. We should thank him. His dream was to win the World Cup, and he exemplified this in the locker room.”
Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in six different World Cups when he netted two goals against Uzbekistan in the group stage. He added a penalty in the Round of 32 against Croatia, bringing his World Cup total to 11 goals across 27 appearances, tying for ninth in the all-time rankings and setting Portugal’s scoring record, surpassing Eusébio’s previous total of nine.
Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals in men’s international football, with 146 in 233 matches for Portugal. His deepest World Cup run occurred in 2006 when Portugal reached the semifinals.
Eight years ago, he scored a World Cup hat-trick against Spain, making him the oldest player to achieve this at 33. That record was recently surpassed by Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick at age 38 against Algeria on June 16. Ronaldo’s 2018 hat-trick came in a thrilling 3-3 group-stage draw with Spain, considered one of the best matches in World Cup history, although neither team advanced that year.
The Trophy That Got Away
Over two decades, Ronaldo participated in six World Cups: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. The World Cup is the major trophy that eludes him, although he won the 2016 European Championship and Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025 — marking Portugal’s first major international trophies.
Before the Spain match, Ronaldo spoke candidly about his legacy.
“I am not going to be more Cristiano Ronaldo or less because I win the World Cup,” he declared.
From Madeira To A Billion Followers
Ronaldo was raised in a working-class family on the Portuguese island of Madeira and began his career with Sporting Lisbon before moving to Manchester United, where he captured the Champions League. He then excelled at Real Madrid, winning the Champions League four additional times, played for Juventus, briefly returned to Manchester United, and is currently with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. He has been awarded five Ballon d’Or trophies.
Off the field, Ronaldo boasts the title of the most-followed individual on Instagram, with around 672 million followers as of July 2026. In recent years, with a decline in pace, he transitioned from a wide attacking role to a central striker position, garnering some criticism in Portugal regarding the prolongation of his international career. Martínez made two substitutions late during the match against Spain but kept Ronaldo on the pitch until the final whistle.
