Cristiano Ronaldo: 'Euro 2016 triumph equals a World Cup' as Portugal exit World Cup 2026

An emotional night in Texas marked the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey. The 41-year-old Portugal captain was reduced to tears after a 1-0 loss to Spain in the Round of 16 at the 2026 tournament, with Mikel Merino scoring the winner deep into second-half stoppage time. At the packed AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Ronaldo wiped away tears and applauded the fans. Later he confirmed this was his final World Cup: “I’m sad to leave like this, but I gave everything. I leave with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup. As for the rest, I need time to think, be with my family, and not decide in the heat of the moment.” Ronaldo finishes his World Cup career with 27 appearances — second only to Lionel Messi’s 30. His 11 goals rank ninth all-time, and his best finish remains the 2006 semifinal. The World Cup trophy eluded him, but he insists his European successes carry equal weight. “I have won three titles with Portugal. The Euro 2016 trophy is on the same level as a World Cup,” said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, also mentioning two UEFA Nations League triumphs. Poignantly, his last World Cup match came eight years after his sensational hat-trick against the same Spain side (3-3) in 2018, when he was 33. This time, he had few chances against goalkeeper Unai Simón, who extended his World Cup clean-sheet streak to 609 minutes. Portugal are out, but Ronaldo leaves the international stage with unmatched numbers: 146 goals and 233 caps — both global records.