Cristiano Ronaldo exits last World Cup with 'clear conscience'

sports / Array Football Cristiano Ronaldo exits last World Cup with ‘clear conscience’ Associated Press / 01:06 PM July 07, 2026 Share: Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts after the end of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias) ARLINGTON, Texas— Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the pitch after his final World Cup match for Portugal with a stoic look on his face and only the slightest hint of emotion. There was a brief wave to acknowledge cheering fans, and the same feeling he has had after past losses.

“Sad — it’s normal after being eliminated like this,” said Ronaldo, who briefly shielded his eyes with his right hand after the match. Article continues after this advertisement The sixth and final World Cup for the 41-year-old superstar ended with a 1-0 loss to border rival Spain in a round of 16 game on Monday.FEATURED STORIES SPORTS LIVE: Alex Eala vs Jasmine Paolini - Wimbledon round of 16 SPORTS Alex Eala's historic Wimbledon ends vs Jasmine Paolini SPORTS LIVE: Gilas Pilipinas vs Australia - Fiba World Cup qualifiers July 6 “I’ve given everything, I’ve given my best, and I leave with a clear conscience,” he said.

“This is soccer, this is life for a soccer player. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.” READ: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score in six World Cups Ronaldo, the only player to score goals in six World Cups in a row and the career leader in international goals with 146, said the day before that he hoped it wouldn’t be his final match in this run and wanted to enjoy it to the fullest.

Article continues after this advertisement But he reiterated then — and again after the loss to Spain — that this was his last time in the tournament that’s played every four years. The deepest he ever went in the World Cup was the semifinals in his 2006 debut. As for his other future plans, he wasn’t ready to say.

“Yes, it was my last World Cup, but everything else I’ll have time to think about, to be with my family, and not make any decision hot-headed and move on with life,” he said. Article continues after this advertisement Ronaldo was denied a goal in the first half against Spain when record-setting goalkeeper Unai Simón made an impressive leaping stop. That was one of his three shots.

Two of those were on target, including the one on which Simón was still in midair when he reached back to grab the ball with both hands. Ronaldo got off a backward kick with his right foot after a header by teammate João Félix bounced off Simón’s shoulder. “He is an example, a role model to follow.

This is somebody that we need to celebrate. We’re talking about a football icon,” Portugal coach Roberto Martínez said in translated remarks. “There aren’t too many Cristiano Ronaldos out there.

I think we need to thank him. His dream was to win the World Cup and he did this as an amazing example in the locker room.” Portugal had never won a major international tournament before Ronaldo.

The first was the 2016 European Championship, before adding Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. Ronaldo’s finale on soccer’s biggest stage came eight years after he recorded a World Cup hat trick at age 33. That made him the oldest to have one, and that stood until then-38-year-old Lionel Messi scored three goals for Argentina in a 3-0 win over Algeria on June 16.

The hat trick for Ronaldo came in a 3-3 draw with Spain in a group stage opener that’s considered one of the tournament’s best matches, although both powers didn’t reach the knockout stage. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

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