Cristiano Ronaldo confirms LAST World Cup, says ‘I gave it my all’
(Courtesy : Getty)
Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 tonight.
Cristiano Ronaldo officially confirmed that the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 was his last appearance in the quadrennial tournament. The 41-year-old started the last-16 clash against Spain at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 6, but could not prevent his side from being eliminated from the expanded 48-team edition in North America.
The match between the Selecao das Quinas and La Roja was a cagey one, with clear-cut chances being few and far between. The deadlock was broken in stoppage time, with Mikel Merino netting the winner after a delightful ball by Ferran Torres.
Ronaldo praised La Roja for their victory, but also defended the performance of his Selecao teammates.
“We played a good game; the performance was well done. We could have done better, but Spain are among the best. They will get to the final or close,” Ronaldo said. “I’m sad now after being eliminated like this… but I gave it (my) all, my very best. I’m leaving with a clear conscience. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”
Also Read: Will Cristiano Ronaldo retire after Portugal’s exit from FIFA World Cup 2026?
Cristiano Ronaldo drops World Cup bombshell
The Al-Nassr forward then dropped the bombshell, confirming the rumours that he will not appear in the 2030 World Cup. He would have been 45 years old for that edition, which will be hosted across Europe, North Africa, and South America.
“It’s been my last World Cup, yes… but now I will have time to think, stay with my family and life continues,” the veteran forward said. “I will wake up tomorrow with the same mood as I did today. I did my best.”
“I won three titles with Portugal. Before me, it was zero titles. I can only be happy,” he added. “I’ve won Euro 2016, which has the same dimensions as the World Cup. That remains. Tomorrow is a new day, and we go.”
Ronaldo was in tears when the final whistle went in Arlington, as the result confirmed Portugal’s exit from the showpiece event. The forward scored three goals in the current edition, taking his all-time World Cup tally to 11 goals. He also clinched his first-ever knockout-stage goal against Croatia in the Round of 32.
Is FIFA World Cup 2026 Cristiano Ronaldo’s last?
Yes, Ronaldo officially confirmed that 2026 was his final World Cup after Portugal’s loss to Spain.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.