Cristiano Ronaldo confirms World Cup retirement as Portugal crash out against Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo’s FIFA World Cup journey has officially come to an end after Portugal suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 7 in Arlington, Texas.

Spain dramatically sealed victory as Mikel Merino struck in the 90th minute, ending Portugal’s campaign and bringing the curtain down on Ronaldo’s record-breaking World Cup career.

Ahead of the knockout clash, the 41-year-old had once again confirmed that the 2026 edition would be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage.

“Yes, it’s my last one. Let’s go and enjoy it,” Ronaldo told reporters before the match, reaffirming comments he had first made in November 2025 when he announced that this would be his sixth and final World Cup.

While Ronaldo has ruled out playing in another World Cup, he stopped short of announcing his retirement from international football altogether.

“I will retire when I want, not when you want,” he said, leaving open the possibility of representing Portugal in future international competitions.

Ronaldo exits the World Cup as one of the tournament’s greatest-ever players. He became the first footballer in history to score in six different World Cups, having featured in every edition from 2006 through 2026. He also remains Portugal’s all-time leading scorer with 146 international goals and captained his country to its historic UEFA Euro 2016 triumph.

However, one achievement eluded him throughout his legendary career—a FIFA World Cup title. Unlike his longtime rival, Lionel Messi, who lifted the trophy in 2022, Ronaldo’s remarkable résumé will always be missing football’s biggest prize.

Despite the disappointment, the Portuguese icon said he had no regrets.

“Not 100%, but 1,000%. Because I gave everything,” Ronaldo said before what proved to be his final World Cup match.

Although his World Cup chapter has closed, Ronaldo’s overall playing career is not over yet. Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al-Nassr FC, has previously indicated that he expects to continue playing club football for another year or two before calling time on one of the greatest careers in football history.