Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed he will wake up tomorrow with no regrets after crashing out of his final World Cup following Portugal’s late 1-0 defeat against Spain in the round of 16.
The Portuguese superstar, 41, broke down in tears on the pitch after Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner snatched victory for Spain in Dallas, calling an end to Ronaldo’s historic World Cup career.
Ronaldo, who is the only player in history to score at six World Cups, will now finish his glittering career without international football’s greatest prize after confirming prior to Portugal’s last-16 clash with Spain that this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico would be his last.
The teary superstar doubled down on this decision after Portugal’s heartbreaking elimination at Dallas Stadium, admitting: ‘It’s been my last World Cup, yes – but now I will have time to think, stay with my family and life continues.’
Ronaldo, who guided Portugal to European Championship glory in 2016 and to two separate Nations League trophies in 2019 and 2025, went on to insist that he will not look back with regret at not having won the ultimate international honour.
‘I will wake up tomorrow with a clear conscience, because I gave my all,’ he urged. ‘I won three titles for Portugal, and Portugal had not won any before me.
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Cristiano Ronaldo has urged that he will have no regrets after crashing out of his last World Cup
The devastated Portugal legend walked down the tunnel at the World Cup for the final time
‘My biggest title with Portugal is Euro 2016. That trophy means the same to me as the World Cup.’
After finishing his post-match interviews on the pitch, Ronaldo headed down the tunnel cutting a heartbroken figure as the realisation that this would be his final World Cup act sunk in.
Footage of Ronaldo captured by cameras inside Dallas Stadium appeared eerily similar to his emotional elimination from the World Cup in Qatar four years ago.
After Portugal were dumped out by Morocco at the 2022 tournament, footage of Ronaldo bursting into tears as he headed down the tunnel went viral.
Despite managing to fight back his tears in the tunnel this time around, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward showed similar signs of devastation as he walked alone with his head bowed down in contemplation.
Ronaldo had initially resisted questions about his World Cup future prior to Sunday, when he eventually revealed that this year would be his swansong.
‘It’s about enjoying it as much as possible,’ Ronaldo said ahead of the round of 16 clash with Spain.
‘This will be my last World Cup, but let’s hope tomorrow isn’t my last game.’
Ronaldo confirmed this World Cup would be his last before Spain’s late 1-0 win over Portugal
He insisted that Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph means the same to him as any World Cup
Ronaldo, who has plied his trade domestically in Saudi Arabia since his lucrative move to Al-Nassr in 2023, has made no indication that he plans to retire from football altogether any time soon.
The all-time great is chasing the remarkable feat of reaching 1,000 career goals, now just 24 goals away after netting in Portugal’s 2-1 round of 32 victory over Croatia last week.
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