Cristiano Ronaldo confirms World Cup journey is over
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed his World Cup journey is over but stopped short of announcing the end of his Portugal career, leaving the door open to a remarkable appearance at Euro 2028, reports BritPanorama.
The Portugal captain was visibly emotional following his country’s last-16 exit to Spain, with Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner ending their hopes of securing football’s biggest prize.
After the match, Ronaldo was in tears, acutely aware that his aspiration to win the World Cup had ultimately slipped away for good. This defeat means the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will retire from the tournament without ever claiming the one major honour that has evaded him, while long-time rival Lionel Messi holds a World Cup winners’ medal and remains in pursuit of another with Argentina.
Despite the heartbreak, the 41-year-old maintained he has no regrets over his contributions to the national team over more than two decades of international football. He remarked, “I’m sad to exit the World Cup like this. But I gave everything. Well, I gave my best. And I leave with a clear conscience. This is football, this is the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And you have to keep going.”
While Ronaldo confirmed he will not feature at another World Cup, he did not announce his retirement from international football altogether. This suggests the possibility of him continuing to represent Portugal until Euro 2028, when he would be 43 years old. The European Championship holds particular significance for Ronaldo, having captained Portugal to their historic first major trophy at Euro 2016.
Reflecting on his achievements with the national team, he expressed, “How do I feel today? The same. With a clear conscience. I gave my best. I have won three titles for Portugal. Before Cristiano, Portugal hadn’t won any titles. So, I’m happy.” He acknowledged the 2016 triumph as a major milestone, equating it in value to a World Cup victory.
Ronaldo remains under contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr until next summer, by which time he will have celebrated his 42nd birthday. Although there are few records left for him to conquer, he approaches yet another remarkable milestone, being the leading scorer and most-capped player in men’s international football history, currently just 24 goals away from reaching 1,000 senior career goals.
He managed to score three goals during this World Cup campaign, but that was overshadowed by Messi’s impressive tally of seven, as the latter remains a contender for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
In the end, it’s a poignant reminder of how fleeting success can be in football, a realm where legends are born but equally where dreams can shatter in an instant.
