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.

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Spanish stars Penélope Cruz and Rosalía were among the standout guests at one of the FIFA World Cup matches.

The celebrities watched the game from the stands in Los Angeles, where Spain faced Austria in the Round of 32. Spain secured an impressive 3–0 victory, advancing to the next stage of the tournament.

The 52-year-old Penélope Cruz and 33-year-old Rosalía reacted enthusiastically to the action on the pitch and celebrated every goal with great excitement.

Joining the actress and the singer was Cruz’s husband, actor Javier Bardem.

 

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The 23rd FIFA World Cup 2026 officially kicked off recently. The opening ceremony took place at the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, bringing together thousands of fans in the stands and millions of viewers watching around the world.

 

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The biggest star of the ceremony was Colombian singer Shakira. Together with Nigerian artist Burna Boy, she performed the tournament’s official anthem – «Dai Dai», a song that has already broken YouTube viewing records and become the musical symbol of the competition.

 

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For the 49-year-old singer, the performance was particularly significant. Shakira has now become the leading musical star of a FIFA World Cup for the fourth time, setting a record among all performers.

The vibrant show featured spectacular lighting effects, large-scale dance performances and the atmosphere of a true celebration. Following the ceremony, the national teams of Mexico and South Africa took to the pitch to begin the football competition.

 

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This year’s World Cup will also be the largest in the tournament’s history. For the first time, 48 national teams will compete for the trophy, and fans can look forward to a total of 104 matches.