Ronaldo says goodbye to World Cup after Portugal's tough loss

Cristiano Ronaldo has officially ended his FIFA World Cup career. He confirmed that Portugal's Round of 16 loss to Spain in Dallas was his last game on the world stage.

The football star made the announcement right after Portugal's exit. He said he leaves the tournament without regrets, having given everything for his country.

Speaking to SportTV after the match, the 41-year-old said he felt sad about how Portugal left the tournament but was at peace with his efforts.

"I’m fine, sad to leave the World Cup this way. But as I said yesterday at the press conference, I gave my best, and I leave with a clear conscience.

"That’s the life of a football player. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, and we need to keep going. The truth is that it was my last World Cup, and now I will have time with my family to avoid making decisions in the heat of the moment.

"I will get up [tomorrow] with a clear conscience. I won three titles for Portugal [one European Championship and two UEFA Nations Leagues]. Before Cristiano, Portugal had never won any titles. Therefore, I leave with a clear conscience. I gave my best. Tomorrow will be a new day, and life goes on."

Ronaldo's announcement wraps up an amazing World Cup journey that lasted two decades and covered six editions of the tournament.

His World Cup story started at Germany 2006. He scored his first tournament goal against Iran and helped Portugal reach their first semi-final in 40 years.

He played in every edition after that: South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022. He scored at least one goal in each tournament, solidifying his status as one of the best players in World Cup history.

Ronaldo added another record at the FIFA World Cup 2026. He became the first player to score in six different editions of the tournament.

This goal came in Portugal’s second group match against Uzbekistan. Ronaldo found space in the penalty area and scored with his usual first-time finish, setting another World Cup record.

By the time he left the pitch for the last time in Dallas, Ronaldo had played 27 FIFA World Cup matches. This is the second most in the tournament's history. He also scored 11 goals across six editions.

Even though Portugal's search for World Cup glory ended earlier than hoped, Ronaldo leaves the world stage as one of the most memorable figures in the tournament. He leaves behind a legacy filled with records, consistency, and long-lasting achievements.

Having already led Portugal to their first major international trophies, the UEFA European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles, Ronaldo said he leaves this tournament with a clear conscience. He believes he gave everything for his country every time he wore the national jersey.