Cristiano Ronaldo: Last World Cup is Over, I Will Think About My National Team Career

With Portugal's elimination after a 1-0 defeat against İspanya in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası, Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup journey has come to an end. The 41-year-old star footballer, who experienced emotional moments and burst into tears after the match, stated that he has not made a clear decision regarding the future of his international career. In his statement to the press, Ronaldo noted that this was his last Dünya Kupası but he would not rush to retire from the national team completely. He emphasized that he plans to spend time with his family and evaluate the situation with a calm mind. The legendary player, stating that life goes on and tomorrow is a new day, has become a subject of curiosity regarding what his decision will be.

Portekiz's performance in this tournament and Ronaldo's role had been a major topic of discussion since before the Dünya Kupası. Many football commentators and fans questioned whether Ronaldo, at 41 years old, should still be in the starting eleven for the team's forward line. Scoring a total of three goals during the tournament, including two penalties against Özbekistan and one penalty against Hırvatistan, Ronaldo could only find the back of the net in two out of five matches. However, his penalty goal against Hırvatistan went down in history as his first-ever goal in the knockout rounds of his World Cup career. Touching the ball only 19 times during the match and his limited mobility on the field further fueled the criticism that it was time for him to retire from football.

Some figures, such as former ABD'li star footballer Clint Dempsey, argued that Ronaldo completed the tournament proudly and gave his all. Dempsey expressed that Ronaldo tried to contribute to his team by scoring three goals and that watching him was always a great pleasure. On the other hand, former ABD'li footballer Carli Lloyd stated she was disappointed with Portekiz's overall team performance. She emphasized that Portekiz, who were discussed before the tournament as having a strong midfield with the potential to win the cup, fell far short of expectations. In particular, the inability of key players like Bruno Fernandes to create the desired impact and the disrupted chemistry within the team stood out as the factors that gradually ended Portekiz's championship dreams.

One of the most talked-about names to take Ronaldo's place on the pitch was Gonçalo Ramos, who made a name for himself by scoring a hat-trick against İsviçre in the 2022 Dünya Kupası. Ramos, who came off the bench in the Hırvatistan match and scored a crucial header, is seen as Portekiz's new generation forward. Despite this, in the knockout match played against İspanya, the head coach preferred to keep Ramos on the bench and trusted Ronaldo. However, when this strategy did not yield the expected result, Portekiz's future attacking power and who would inherit Ronaldo's legacy started to be discussed again. Regardless of Ronaldo's decision, he will continue to hold the title of the all-time top scorer in men's football history with 146 goals in the international arena.

Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved great individual successes with the Portekiz national team and left an unforgettable mark on his country's football history. Although he experienced disappointments in tournaments where he could not pass the semi-final stage since his first performance in the 2006 Dünya Kupası, he carried Portekiz to the championship by scoring three goals in the 2016 Avrupa Şampiyonası (Euro 2016). Ronaldo considers this victory as the greatest title of his personal career and argues that it is as valuable as a Dünya Kupası. This moment, when Portekiz won its first major trophy in the international arena, is described as the peak of Ronaldo's career. The legendary player added that he is proud of the three trophies he has won with the national team and that he can walk away with a clear conscience because he gave his best every time he stepped on the pitch. Whether he will continue his journey targeting Euro 2028 in the upcoming period stands out as another important detail closely concerning the football world.