Cristiano Ronaldo’s long pursuit of a World Cup title has come to a close after Portugal fell 1-0 to Spain in the last 16, with Mikel Merino netting a stoppage-time winner in Dallas. The 41-year-old forward was visibly emotional as the final whistle confirmed Portugal’s exit.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and five-time Champions League champion, holds the record for most career goals in football history. He has now featured in a record six World Cups, but his best result remains reaching the semi-finals back in 2006. He had already confirmed this would be his last World Cup appearance, though he stopped short of announcing international retirement, saying he’d discuss his future with family first.
Debate has intensified over whether manager Roberto Martinez should have continued starting Ronaldo throughout the tournament. BBC pundit Chris Sutton was particularly scathing, accusing Martinez of favoritism toward the veteran star and suggesting Ronaldo’s declining mobility contributed directly to Portugal’s early exit.
Martinez, however, defended his approach, announcing his resignation after the match and describing Ronaldo as a footballing icon who deserved gratitude for his efforts at the tournament.
A Squad Full of Talent, Questions Over Selection
Portugal’s roster featured several Champions League winners from PSG’s recent title runs, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves plus Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, the Premier League’s reigning Player of the Year. Critics questioned why striker Goncalo Ramos saw limited playing time given the depth of talent available.
Statistically, Ronaldo remained productive in front of goal finishing with three goals and 18 shots, more than all but four other players in the tournament. But his overall involvement dropped sharply elsewhere: he created just one chance for a teammate across five matches, and hundreds of players touched the ball more often than he did despite him playing almost every available minute.
Messi Comparisons Resurface
With Ronaldo’s World Cup story now finished without a title, comparisons to long-time rival Lionel Messi have resurfaced. Messi lifted the trophy in 2022 and currently sits as this tournament’s joint top scorer. Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney praised his legacy, acknowledging his disappointment but calling him one of the game’s true greats.
Ronaldo leaves the World Cup stage holding a few historic marks the only player to score in six different tournaments, and one of just two (alongside Messi) to appear in six. His 11 career World Cup goals place him ninth all-time.
Martinez Exits Following World Cup Failure
Martinez, who previously led Belgium to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 before a group-stage exit in 2022, took charge of Portugal in 2023 and won the Nations League last year. He confirmed his departure immediately after the loss to Spain, stating his contract had concluded and that continuing without achieving his stated goal of winning the World Cup didn’t make sense.
Sutton was highly critical of Martinez’s overall tenure, arguing he failed to maximize the talent at his disposal with both Belgium and Portugal.
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