Portugal’s captain admitted his team’s last-16 match against Spain was their last World Cup match.
Published July 6, 2026
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup ended with a last-gasp victory over Mikel Merino, a 1-0 Round of 16 win and a sting from the Spaniard’s tail, but he was in no mood to make any hasty decisions about his international future.
Ronaldo told reporters in the mixed zone on Monday that Spain had a “bit of luck” scoring from substitute Merino in the closing stages of a game when it felt like things could have gone either way.
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“It’s sad to leave the World Cup in this way,” he said. “I gave it my all. I did my best and I’m going to leave here with a clear conscience. Yes, this was my last World Cup, but now I have time to think it over and be with my family. I won’t make any rash decisions.”
The 41-year-old stopped short of confirming whether he had played his final game for Portugal, saying he did not want his personal decision to overshadow the team’s campaign.
“I don’t make decisions in the heat of the moment,” he said.
Ronaldo, who helped Portugal win the European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League in 2019 and 2025, said he was proud of his contribution to the national team.
“I won three titles with Portugal. Until Cristiano Ronaldo came along, Portugal had never won any titles,” he said.
“The biggest title that the national team has won so far was the European Championship in 2016. To be honest, it is as important to me as the World Cup.”
The Portugal international’s departure also coincided with the departure of coach Roberto Martinez, and Ronaldo had warm words for the Spaniard.
“I loved working with him,” he said. “He is a great coach, a great human being and he should be praised for what he has done for Portugal. I would like to thank him and wish him all the best.
“It’s always sad to lose in a major tournament. That’s the World Cup. The team was really coming into its own. From my perspective, we played well. It could have gone either way, but that’s football. We have to pick ourselves up and keep going.”
“It’s frustrating to go into the game like this, but we can play with pride,” added the Al Nasr forward.
