Lisbon: Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old captain of the Portuguese national team, has officially confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last. Prior to the Round of 16 match against Spain, Ronaldo stated that his performance in this World Cup hasn't been bad, having already scored three goals - two against Uzbekistan in the group stage and a penalty against Croatia in the Round of 32. This brings his total to six consecutive World Cup goals since his debut in 2006, and a total of 11 goals throughout the tournament. Furthermore, he thanked his fans worldwide for their support, expressing his gratitude for the emotional encounters with fans from Venezuela and Colombia who tearfully showed their support, making him feel incredibly honored.
According to Thai News Agency, after the Round of 16 match on Monday (July 6, 2026) local time, Portugal suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Spain, resulting in their elimination from the tournament. Ronaldo stated that Spain was a little lucky to score the winning goal in the late stages of the game, although he felt the result could have been different. He also expressed his sadness at having to leave the World Cup like this, but insisted that he had given his all and done his best. However, while acknowledging that this was his last World Cup, the 41-year-old star striker refused to announce his immediate retirement from the national team, stating that he would take time to reflect and spend time with his family first, and would not make any decisions impulsively or hastily.
Regarding his future, whether he chooses to continue playing or retire, Ronaldo stated that he will always play a significant role for the Portuguese national team. He currently holds the record for most international appearances with 232 caps and a record-breaking 146 goals. He expressed pride in his past achievements, emphasizing that he led Portugal to three major titles: the 2016 European Championship, and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025. Ronaldo concluded by saying that before his era, Portugal had never won anything significant, making the 2016 European Championship as important to him as the World Cup.