Cristiano Ronaldo played his final match at the FIFA World Cup
Unable to hold back his tears
Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has played his final FIFA World Cup match, bidding farewell to the tournament following Portugal’s elimination.
The 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match took place in Arlington, Texas, and ended with a 1–0 victory for Spain.
Even before the tournament began, the 41-year-old Ronaldo had announced that this would be his final World Cup appearance. After the final whistle, the football icon was unable to contain his emotions and broke down in tears.
Despite being widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Ronaldo never succeeded in winning the FIFA World Cup.
However, the athlete does not consider this to be the greatest disappointment of his career. Following the match, Ronaldo emphasized that he had already helped Portugal achieve historic triumphs.
«I won three trophies for Portugal. Before Cristiano, the national team had not won a single one. That is why I am happy. The most important trophy I won with the national team was UEFA Euro 2016. For me, its significance is equal to that of a World Cup», the footballer said.
Over the course of his career, Ronaldo set dozens of records and became a true icon of world football, scoring more than 100 goals for the Portuguese national team.
Beyond his sporting achievements, Ronaldo also made history as the first billionaire football player. His net worth is estimated at approximately $1.4 billion.
Photo: Instagram @bleacherreport
