Ronaldo bids farewell to World Cup after Portugal's 0-1 loss to Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has played his final World Cup match.

Portugal fell to Spain 0-1 in the round of 16 at the North America World Cup on Tuesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, conceding a goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.

Speaking at a post-match news conference, Ronaldo said he was saddened by the manner of his exit. "As I said yesterday, I gave everything," he said. "I leave with a clear conscience."

"That is the life of a footballer," he added. "We must keep moving forward."

Ronaldo confirmed that Tuesday's match was his last at the tournament. "Yes, today was my last World Cup," he said. "I still have plenty of time to think about everything else. I will spend time with my family and not make any hasty decisions."

Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes against Spain, attempting three shots, none of which found the net.

As the final whistle blew, Ronaldo could not hide his emotions, his eyes visibly reddening. He applauded the Portuguese fans who had cheered him on throughout the match before walking toward the locker room with a dejected look on his face.

At an official news conference on Monday, Ronaldo had said he was trying to savor what he knew could be his last World Cup. "I hope tomorrow is not my last World Cup match," he said. "I hope, God willing, we keep moving forward."

"There is no doubt that I can still score goals," he said. "I hope to score tomorrow. If I can't, I hope my teammates will."

That wish went unfulfilled.

Ronaldo made his World Cup debut in 2006 at the age of 21. Tuesday's match against Spain marked the end of a 20-year journey on the world stage.

He finished this tournament after five matches — three in the group stage and two in the knockout rounds.

In Portugal's group stage opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo, he became the first player in history to appear at six consecutive World Cups.

Against Uzbekistan in the second group match, he scored twice to set another historic mark: the first player to score at six consecutive World Cup tournaments.

He also converted a penalty against Croatia in the round of 32, bringing his all-time World Cup goal tally to 11.

With the Portuguese national team, Ronaldo won three major titles — Euro 2016 and two UEFA Nations League championships in the 2018-2019 and 2024-2025 seasons.

The World Cup, however, will remain a source of regret. Ronaldo was part of the Portugal squad that finished fourth at his debut tournament in 2006, but the ultimate prize eluded him at every subsequent edition — a round-of-16 exit in 2010, a group-stage elimination in 2014, another round of 16 in 2018, a quarterfinal in 2022, and now a round-of-16 defeat once more.

Portugal and Spain pressed each other hard from the opening minutes.

Spain, who held a 1-0-1 edge in the all-time head-to-head record, came close in the 9th minute when Mikel Oyarzabal received a pass from Dani Olmo, cut into the left side of the penalty area and fired a left-footed shot one-on-one with the goalkeeper, only to see it clip the outside of the right post.

Portugal responded in the 12th minute when Ronaldo charged into the right side of the penalty area and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot, but Spain's goalkeeper punched it away.

Both sides traded relentless waves of attack while looking to exploit the counter.

The frenetic pace of the first half gave way to more cautious play early in the second, as both teams hunted for a single decisive goal.

With the match seemingly headed for extra time, Spain struck in the first minute of stoppage time. The hero was Mikel Merino, who had come on in the 85th minute. Ferran Torres, introduced as a substitute in the 75th minute, played a pass from just outside the penalty arc, and Merino drove into the center of the box before finishing with his left foot to end the match.