Ronaldo confirms his World Cup career ends after Portugal's 1-0 loss to Spain

Portugal were eliminated from the World Cup on Saturday after a 1‑0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 in Dallas. The decisive goal came late in the second half, ending Portugal’s 233‑match run in the tournament and sending the Iberian rivals through to the quarter‑finals. Spain’s manager Luis Enrique praised the tactical shift that brought forward the scorer, while Portugal coach Roberto Martínez lamented that “when you need a goal, you cannot take him off,” referring to the limited attacking options at a critical stage of the match.

The defeat also marked the final World Cup appearance for captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who confirmed that the game was his last at the tournament but has not yet decided on his future in international football. Ronaldo, 41, left the field as the only player to have scored in six World Cups, a record that caps a 23‑year international career highlighted by Portugal’s 2016 European Championship triumph, which he described as “as big as a world title.” He departed the competition at peace, noting that his era has been the most successful in Portuguese football history.