Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup journey has come to an end — without the one trophy that eluded him throughout a record-breaking career. Portugal were eliminated in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup, beaten 1-0 by Spain in Dallas, with Mikel Merino's injury-time strike sending the Iberian neighbours through.
Ronaldo, 41, was in tears at the final whistle. He had already confirmed this would be his last World Cup, and when asked afterwards whether he would continue representing Portugal, he said:
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup journey has come to an end — without the one trophy that eluded him throughout a record-breaking career. Portugal were eliminated in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup, beaten 1-0 by Spain in Dallas, with Mikel Merino's injury-time strike sending the Iberian neighbours through.
Ronaldo, 41, was in tears at the final whistle. He had already confirmed this would be his last World Cup, and when asked afterwards whether he would continue representing Portugal, he said:
