Cristiano Ronaldo has acknowledged that his World Cup career has concluded, although he remains undecided about his next steps even at the age of 41. The Portugal captain’s 233rd appearance for his national team culminated in a narrow 1-0 loss to Spain, resulting in their elimination in Dallas.
Ronaldo exits the tournament as the only player to have scored in six World Cups. Reflecting on his experience, he expressed a sense of peace, emphasizing that winning the European Championship in 2016 holds equal significance for him as a World Cup title. He remarked on the historic success of his era with the national team.
“I am sad to leave like this but I have given everything, always given my best,” Ronaldo stated. “I go with a clear conscience. This is football, it is the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. You have to carry on. It was my last World Cup, yes, but as far as the rest of it is concerned: there will be time to think, to be with my family, [I will] not make decisions in the heat of the moment.
I will wake up tomorrow the same way I woke up today: with a clear conscience. I gave my all. I won three titles with Portugal. Before Cristiano, Portugal had never won a big trophy. The best trophy I won with the national team was 2016, which for me has the same dimension as the World Cup. So I repeat: I leave here with a clear conscience. Tomorrow will be another day and life goes on.”
The head coach of Portugal, Roberto Martínez, offered high praise for the veteran forward, despite another lackluster performance against Spain. “I go with a clear conscience. This is football, it is the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. You have to carry on. It was my last World Cup, yes, but as far as the rest of it is concerned: there will be time to think, to be with my family, [I will] not make decisions in the heat of the moment. “I will wake up tomorrow the same way I woke up today: with a clear conscience. I gave my all. I won three titles with Portugal. Before Cristiano, Portugal had never won a big trophy. The best trophy I won with the national team was 2016, which for me has the same dimension as the World Cup. So I repeat: I leave here with a clear conscience. Tomorrow will be another day and life goes on.” Martínez commented. “I had a word of thanks to him,”
Martínez dismissed any notion that Ronaldo should have been substituted during what turned out to be his final World Cup appearance. “He has been an exemplary captain. I arrived when there was a lot of confusion and questions in terms of his position in the team. But he has been an example not only in the number of goals he has scored, but also in the counterattacks he leads. He is an example, a role model to follow. He is a football icon. There aren’t many Ronaldos out there. “His dream was to win this World Cup and he did this by being an amazing example within the dressing room,” he explained. “He’s physically very capable, in open space and from dead balls; anything in the box, you need his experience.
“He is a prime example of football, the athlete, and the human being who is behind that athlete.”
This match also marked the end of Martínez’s tenure as Portugal’s manager. “When you are a team who need a goal you cannot take him off,” he said. “He’s physically very capable, in open space and from dead balls; anything in the box, you need his experience. “Probably in extra time would be when you might use the energy of Gonçalo Ramos. Today, we had to keep the structure. It’s not the time to take your centre-forward, your best goalscorer off.”
Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, expressed delight at the contributions from Mikel Merino, who scored from the bench. “I am proud. We played one of the favourites eye-to-eye. The journey we had to be able to play like this. I feel immense pride. Immense pride in our personality and focus.” he noted, “He’s an exceptional player,”
