Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts after the top of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)
ARLINGTON, Texas— Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the pitch after his final World Cup match for Portugal with a stoic look on his face and only the slightest hint of emotion. There was a transient wave to acknowledge cheering fans, and the identical feeling he has had after past losses.
“Sad — it’s normal after being eliminated like this,” said Ronaldo, who briefly shielded his eyes together with his right hand after the match.
The sixth and final World Cup for the 41-year-old superstar ended with a 1-0 loss to frame rival Spain in a round of 16 game on Monday.
“I’ve given every little thing, I’ve given my best, and I leave with a transparent conscience,” he said. “That is soccer, that is life for a soccer player. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”
READ: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to attain in six World Cups
Ronaldo, the one player to attain goals in six World Cups in a row and the profession leader in international goals with 146, said the day before that he hoped it wouldn’t be his final match on this run and desired to enjoy it to the fullest.
But he reiterated then — and again after the loss to Spain — that this was his last time within the tournament that’s played every 4 years. The deepest he ever went within the World Cup was the semifinals in his 2006 debut.
As for his other future plans, he wasn’t able to say.
“Yes, it was my last World Cup, but every little thing else I’ll have time to take into consideration, to be with my family, and never make any decision hot-headed and move on with life,” he said.
Ronaldo was denied a goal in the primary half against Spain when record-setting goalkeeper Unai Simón made a powerful leaping stop. That was one among his three shots.
Two of those were on the right track, including the one on which Simón was still in midair when he reached back to grab the ball with each hands. Ronaldo got off a backward kick together with his right foot after a header by teammate João Félix bounced off Simón’s shoulder.
“He’s an example, a job model to follow. That is anyone that we want to rejoice. We’re talking a few football icon,” Portugal coach Roberto Martínez said in translated remarks. “There aren’t too many Cristiano Ronaldos on the market. I believe we want to thank him. His dream was to win the World Cup and he did this as an incredible example within the locker room.”
Portugal had never won a significant international tournament before Ronaldo. The primary was the 2016 European Championship, before adding Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
Ronaldo’s finale on soccer’s biggest stage got here eight years after he recorded a World Cup hat trick at age 33. That made him the oldest to have one, and that stood until then-38-year-old Lionel Messi scored three goals for Argentina in a 3-0 win over Algeria on June 16.
The hat trick for Ronaldo got here in a 3-3 draw with Spain in a gaggle stage opener that’s considered one among the tournament’s best matches, although each powers didn’t reach the knockout stage.
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He scored three goals on this World Cup, and his 11 overall are tied for ninth on the profession list.