Cristiano Ronaldo's quest for a World Cup title concluded in tears on Monday as Portugal suffered a 1-0 defeat against Spain in their final tournament match. The loss marked the end of the 41-year-old's storied international career, during which he became the only player to score in six World Cups. Mikel Merino's goal in stoppage time secured Spain's victory and dashed Ronaldo's hopes of lifting the sport's most coveted trophy.
Following the match, Ronaldo's fiancée, Georgina Rodriguez, publicly expressed her support. She shared a post from Nike, a sponsor of Ronaldo's, on her Instagram story. The repost featured a dramatic image of the soccer star with the caption, "His Legend Lives On," accompanied by the Nike swoosh logo. Rodriguez added a red heart emoji above the shared post.
Ronaldo had confirmed on Sunday that this World Cup would be his last. "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 after the team's elimination.
Despite the disappointment, Ronaldo maintained a forward-looking perspective, emphasizing his achievements with the national team. "I will wake up tomorrow with a clear conscience, because I gave my all," he said. "I won three titles for Portugal, and Portugal had not won any before me. My biggest title with Portugal is Euro 2016. That trophy means the same to me as the World Cup."
Footage from the Dallas Stadium showed a visibly distraught Ronaldo leaving the pitch and heading towards the tunnel, head bowed. The emotional scene drew comparisons to his tearful exit after Portugal's elimination from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when footage of him crying after the match against Morocco also circulated widely. While he managed to hold back tears on the pitch this time, his devastation was evident as he walked alone in contemplation.
Ronaldo's international career has been marked by significant success, including leading Portugal to victory in the 2016 European Championship and securing two Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. His final World Cup appearance ends without the ultimate international prize, but he expressed no regrets over his dedicated career for Portugal.