Portugal's forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo waves to fans after losing the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Portugal and Spain at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 6, 2026. (Photo by Thomas Coex / AFP)
Doha: Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said he wouldn’t make any decisions about his international future in the heat of the moment, but Portugal’s exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026 seems to have made things clear about his career.
A stoppage-time strike from substitute Mikel Merino sent Spain past Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16 at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on Monday, and Ronaldo’s last shot at football’s biggest trophy went up in smoke.
“It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions,” the 41-year-old Ronaldo said reports after the match.
“I don’t make decisions in the heat of the moment,” he said.
“I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this. I gave it my all, I did my best, and I’m leaving with a clear conscience,” Ronaldo said.
Ronaldo made history in Portugal’s second match - against Uzbekistan - at the 2026 World Cup when he became the first player to score at six editions of the global football extravaganza, before making it a brace 33 minutes later. Ronaldo scored another goal off a spot kick against Croatia in Portugal’s Round of 32 clash, which eventually became his last goal at World Cup tournaments.
It was his 27th match in the FIFA World Cup tournaments since his first finals appearance at Germany 2006.
“It’s frustrating to go out like this, but we can hold our heads high,” added the Al Nassr forward.
“That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And it has to move on.”
Ronaldo scored his maiden tournament goal against Iran, and helped Portugal reach their first semi-final in 40 years. He went on to play, and score at least one goal, at South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 where he scored a stunning hat-trick against Spain, and Qatar 2002.
Ronaldo has spent two decades being Portugal’s most celebrated footballer, and surely he has been the biggest influence in his country’s run at the global stage.
Prior to his arrival, Portugal have only made it to the FIFA spectacle three times in 76 years since it’s inception, in 1966, 1986 and 2002.
The European powerhouse has made it to every FIFA World Cup tournament since Ronaldo’s arrival, but the fourth place finish in 2006 remains his best run.
His 11 World Cup goals remain a Portugal record, and he sits joint ninth along with Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis and Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann, but that is nowhere close to the table topper Lionel Messi (21) of Argentina.
Ronaldo, Messi and Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa are the only players to have played across six World Cups, and the Portugal captain also holds the distinction of being the only player to score in all of them.
He also possesses record for most caps (233) and also holds the all-time men’s international scoring record with 146 goals.
Under Ronaldo, Portugal lifted the 2016 European Championship for the first time, and the Al Nassr skipper relished the accomplishment.
“Before Cristiano, Portugal hadn’t won any titles,” Ronaldo said.
“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.
“Therefore, I repeat, I leave with a clear conscience, having done my best, and that’s it. Tomorrow will be a new day, and life goes on.”
“We have to pick ourselves up and carry on,” Ronaldo said after the tournament exit on Monday.
However, only time will tell how long he is willing to do so.
