Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup ended Monday, July 6 in Arlington, Texas, when Portugal was eliminated by Spain in the Round of 16. The 41-year-old had already said the 2026 tournament would be his final World Cup, closing a six-tournament career that inclu
Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the World Cup stage knowing it was over, and for Portugal, it was over quickly.
Portugal lost to Spain 1-0 on Monday, July 6 in Arlington, Texas in the Round of 16, ending its run in the 2026 tournament. The game was scoreless until Mikel Merino scored in the 90th minute to break the tie, and Portugal’s elimination was final.
For Ronaldo, one of the most famous soccer players to ever live, the defeat marked the end of his World Cup career. He had already made that clear ahead of time, even as the questions kept coming.
On the day before the Spain match, Ronaldo—now 41—reiterated his retirement plans with Portugal’s final game of the 2026 World Cup. Asked again if this was his final World Cup, he answered, “Yes, it’s my last one. Let’s go and enjoy it.”
It was not the first time he had said it. Back in November 2025. Ronaldo told reporters the 2026 tournament would definitely be his last. pointing out that he would be 41 by the time it arrived. He has also said he expects to stop playing entirely in the next year or two. while keeping the national-team option open.
Ronaldo made that distinction when he spoke about retiring from Portugal. “I will retire when I want, not when you want,” he said. The message was plain: he was done with the World Cup, but he could still potentially play for Portugal in other tournaments.
The tournament ends with Ronaldo still holding major weight in the record books. This was his sixth World Cup, going back to 2006. Along the way, he became the first man to score in six different tournaments. He is Portugal’s all-time leader in goals with 146, and he helped the country win the European Championship in 2016.
There is one missing prize that has defined his legacy even as his career has kept stacking milestones. Ronaldo never won a World Cup, the biggest trophy in the sport. Lionel Messi of Argentina. his longtime rival. finally won the tournament in 2022—leaving the World Cup trophy still absent from Ronaldo’s record.
In the moments leading into the Spain game, Ronaldo showed the same confidence he had carried into his retirement talk. He said he could walk away with his head high no matter what happened, adding: “Not 100%, but 1,000%. Because I gave everything.”
Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal vs Spain 2026 World Cup Round of 16 Mikel Merino retirement plans Arlington Texas Al-Nassr Lionel Messi