Jakarta, ThedailyID — Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream of winning the FIFA World Cup ended after Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the Round of 16 of the 2026 tournament.
The defeat ended Portugal’s campaign. It also confirmed that Ronaldo will retire from the World Cup without lifting football’s biggest trophy.
The 2026 tournament marked Ronaldo’s sixth and final World Cup appearance. He will be 45 when the next edition takes place in 2030. The Portuguese captain has already confirmed he will not play again, even though Portugal will co-host the tournament.
After the final whistle, Ronaldo stood on the pitch in tears. The emotional moment reflected the end of his World Cup journey.
Although he struggled to make a decisive impact, Ronaldo still made history. He became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cups.
Before facing Spain, Ronaldo said he would leave the tournament with no regrets. He believed he had given everything throughout his international career.
Unlike longtime rival Lionel Messi, Ronaldo never guided Portugal to a World Cup title. Messi led Argentina to glory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Portugal’s best World Cup finish during Ronaldo’s career came in 2006. The team reached the semifinals before falling short of the final.
Despite missing a World Cup crown, Ronaldo enjoyed major success with Portugal. He captained the team to the UEFA Euro 2016 title. He also helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
Ronaldo leaves behind an outstanding international record. He scored 146 goals and provided 46 assists in 233 appearances for Portugal.
His World Cup career has ended. However, fans may still watch him at club level because he has not announced his retirement from professional football.
