Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo shared an emotional post, opening up for the first time since heartbreaking loss to Spain in FIFA World Cup 2026. The game saw Mikel Merino score a late winner to help Spain clinch a 1-0 win over Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had announced before the match that this would be his final FIFA World Cup, once again walked off the pitch with disappointment on his face and tears in his eyes.
Although Ronaldo did not reveal whether he would continue playing for Portugal, he said he would not make any “rash decisions” about his future with the national team. His message showed his deep connection and love for his country.
After the loss, Ronaldo shared a picture of the Portuguese team in a huddle on Instagram with the message, ‘Portugal Sempre’, which means ‘Portugal Forever’. The Instagram post quickly went viral, with fans flooding the comments section with messages of support.
Cristiano Ronaldo made his World Cup debut back in 2006 where Portugal finished fourth. They followed up with a Round of 16 exit in 2010, group stage exit in 2014, and then a Round of 16 exit in 2018. The 2022 World Cup saw Portugal making it to the quarter-finals and there were a lot of hopes in the 2026 World Cup, as many experts believed this was their strongest squad.
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup journey comes to an end
Ahead of this 2026 World Cup, there were a lot of questions regarding Ronaldo and whether he should be playing in this tournament. He enjoyed a decent tournament, scoring three goals in five matches, including a brace against Uzbekistan. However he could not create an impact in the crucial game against Spain in the Round of 16 clash. Ronaldo attempted 17 shots in the match without creating a single chance for a teammate, the most such attempts by any player in a World Cup match.
Ronaldo finished his World Cup career with 27 matches, which is the second most by any player. He finished with 11 World Cup goals, a respectable tally, though perhaps lower than many expected from a player of his calibre. Despite that, he surpassed Eusebio, to become the leading goal scorer for Portugal in the World Cup.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments. At the age 41 years and 147 days, he also became the oldest goal-scorer in a knockout fixture when he scored against Croatia. Ronaldo's legacy with Portugal remains unmatched, even though his final World Cup ended in heartbreak.
