Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup story is over. Again. And this time it really feels final.
Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the Round of 16 on Monday, ending the 41-year-old’s sixth and almost certainly last appearance at the tournament. Ronaldo scored three goals in this World Cup, pushing his career tally to 11. He leaves as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer with 146 goals and most capped player at 232 appearances. Those numbers are staggering. But they didn’t get him the one thing he wanted most.
Outgoing coach Roberto Martinez didn’t hold back when asked about Ronaldo after the loss.
“This is not the time to look for anything beyond the fact that we are talking about a football icon,” Martinez said, via The Athletic. “There aren’t many Cristiano Ronaldos. I will forever appreciate what he tried to do in this World Cup, because his dream was to win it.”
Martinez, who is also leaving his post, called Ronaldo an incredible example of a captain on a footballing and human level. He said the striker’s impact inside the dressing room is something the entire staff and all the players will carry forever. He called Ronaldo an example of football, of an athlete and of the human being behind the athlete.
That’s heavy praise for a guy who turns 42 next year and has spent much of this tournament fielding questions about whether he should even still be starting.
Ronaldo’s World Cup career ends with that single knockout goal back in 2018 against Spain in a 3-3 group stage thriller. He never scored in the knockout rounds. Never got to hoist the trophy. And Portugal’s next World Cup in 2030 — which they’ll co-host with Spain and Morocco — will be the first without Ronaldo up top since 2002.
What comes next for Portugal
Portugal is now looking for a new manager after Martinez’s departure. The team is still loaded with talent. Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix. They’re not going anywhere. But finding the right coach to push them over the top in 2030 is the immediate priority.
The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League starts in September. Portugal opens against Wales on Sept. 24 and Norway on Sept. 27. That’s when the post-Ronaldo era truly begins.
No one knows if Ronaldo will retire from international duty or try to hang on for another couple years. He’s still playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He’s still scoring goals. But at a certain point, even legends have to walk away. This World Cup exit felt like the moment.
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