Cristiano Ronaldo ended his 2026 World Cup campaign with messages that carried a mixture of sadness and satisfaction, after Portugal's exit from the round of 16 following a 1-0 loss to Spain.
The Portuguese captain confirmed that the current edition of the World Cup was his last, stressing that he is leaving the tournament without regret after giving his all during his time with his national team.
Ronaldo said after the match: "We lacked a little luck, we conceded a goal in the final minutes, and the match was evenly balanced, but that's football."
He added: "It's natural to feel sad after being eliminated in this way, but I said before the match that I would do everything I could, and that's what I did. I leave with a clear conscience, and life goes on."
Regarding his future after the World Cup, the Portuguese star explained: "This was my last World Cup tournament, and I will discuss my next steps with my family. I will not make any hasty decisions."
Ronaldo reflected on his career with the Portuguese national team, emphasizing his pride in what he had achieved, saying: "I won three titles with Portugal, and before Cristiano, Portugal had not won any titles. Euro 2016 remains my greatest achievement, and it holds a special place."
The Portuguese captain praised the Spanish team, considering them one of the top contenders for the title, adding: "Spain could reach the final or be very close to it. We gave it our all, and when you do that, there is no room for complaint."
Ronaldo also sent a message of thanks to coach Roberto Martinez, who announced his departure after the match, saying: "I really enjoyed working with him, he is a great coach, and what he has done for Portugal has been very important. I thank him for everything he has done and I wish him all the best."
Despite the bitterness of being eliminated by a late goal, Ronaldo confirmed his satisfaction with his international trip, saying: "I feel sad because the match could have ended with any result, but I also leave with a clear conscience."
When asked what advice he would have given himself before his first World Cup appearance in 2006, he replied: "I would tell him to always give his best, because when you do that you leave with a clear conscience. Representing the national team has been a great honor for me throughout my career."
Ronaldo played 27 World Cup matches, scoring 11 goals in the World Cup, and participated in 233 international matches with the Portuguese national team, scoring 146 goals, including 14 goals in the European Championship.
It is worth noting that Ronaldo is the only player to have scored in 6 different editions of the World Cup.
