Cristiano Ronaldo's quest to win the World Cup concluded with a 1-0 defeat against Spain, marking the end of his international career. The 41-year-old striker left the pitch in tears after Mikel Merino's stoppage-time goal secured victory for Spain and ended Portugal's World Cup campaign.
Ronaldo, the only player to score in six World Cups, announced prior to the tournament that it would be his last. Despite hoping his final match would not be against Spain, his aspirations were not realized.
Following the heartbreaking loss, Ronaldo's fiancée, Georgina Rodriguez, expressed her support through a post on her Instagram story. She shared a Nike advertisement featuring a side profile of Ronaldo with the tagline "His Legend Lives On," adding a red heart emoji.
Rodriguez, who has 74.7 million followers on the platform, has been a public supporter of the soccer star throughout his career. The couple has been together since 2016.
After the match, Ronaldo acknowledged that this was indeed his final World Cup appearance. "It’s been my last World Cup, yes - but now I will have time to think, stay with my family and life continues," he stated. He added that he would awaken with a clear conscience, having given his all for Portugal. Ronaldo highlighted his achievements with the national team, including winning the European Championship in 2016 and two Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025, asserting that these titles hold the same significance for him as a World Cup.
Ronaldo's emotional reaction mirrored his departure from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where footage showed him in tears after Portugal's elimination by Morocco. While he managed to hold back tears in the tunnel on this occasion, his dejected demeanor and bowed head conveyed his devastation.
