NEW DELHI: Cristiano Ronaldo shared an emotional message after Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign ended with a heartbreaking Round of 16 defeat to Spain.The Portuguese captain announced before the game in Spain that this is his last FIFA World Cup. Portugal suffered a late 2-1 defeat after Mikel Merino scored the winner. Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes both missed chances as Portugal’s dream of lifting the trophy ended. The 41-year-old left the field in tears after his last World Cup match.
Ronaldo’s emotional message:
After the defeat, Ronaldo posted a picture of the Portugal team in a huddle on Instagram with a simple two-word message. “Portugal Semper”, which translates to “Portugal Forever”.Despite confirming that this will be his last World Cup, Ronaldo has not revealed whether he will retire from international football. Speaking after the match, he said he would not make any “snap decisions” about his future in Portugal.
A World Cup journey ends
Ronaldo’s World Cup journey began in 2006, when Portugal finished fourth. The team reached the Round of 16 in 2010, exited the group stage in 2014, and suffered another Round of 16 exit in 2018. In 2022, Portugal reached the quarterfinals before being knocked out. The tournament also saw Lionel Messi lead Argentina to the title.Ronaldo finished his FIFA World Cup career with 27 appearances, the second most of any player, and 11 goals. He scored three goals in five games during the 2026 edition but was unable to guide Portugal beyond the Round of 16.His last World Cup also ended with an undesirable record. Ronaldo attempted 17 shots during the tournament without creating a chance for a teammate, the most of any player at a FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo’s records in his last World Cup
The tournament, jointly sponsored by the USA, Canada and Mexico, also saw Ronaldo add milestones to his remarkable career.In Portugal’s 2-1 Round of 32 win over Croatia, Ronaldo became the first player in history to appear in a FIFA World Cup knockout match at the age of 41 or older. The game also featured another veteran, Luka Modric, making it the first World Cup game with two outfield players aged 40 or over.Ronaldo also became the oldest goalscorer in World Cup knockout history at 41 years and 147 days. This is also his first goal in a World Cup knockout match.
How the campaign unfolded in Portugal
Portugal opened their campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo, where Ronaldo struggled to make an impact.He returned in style against Uzbekistan, scoring twice in Portugal’s 5-0 win. Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao were also on target, while Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov’s own goal completed the scoring.The two goals helped Ronaldo become Portugal’s leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 10 goals, surpassing Eusebio’s tally of nine. He also became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, ending a 10-match goal drought in major international competitions.Portugal ended the group stage with a goalless draw against Colombia before defeating Croatia in the Round of 32. However, their campaign ended in the next round with a painful defeat to Spain, bringing Ronaldo’s World Cup journey to an end.