FIFA World Cup: Ronaldo’s World Cup dream shattered in tears

Portugal’s great footballer Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey ended with a 0-1 defeat against Spain in the last 16.

Spain’s Mikel Merino’s decisive goal in extra time eliminated Portugal from the tournament, after which the 41-year-old Ronaldo could not control his emotions and appeared in tears on the field.

Ronaldo had earlier announced that the 2026 World Cup would be the last international tournament of his career.

However, after the match, he said that he would first consult his family and then decide about his future in the national team.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has scored 976 goals in his career and is the only player to have scored in six different World Cups.

However, he failed to achieve his dream of winning the World Cup. His best performance was leading Portugal to the semi-finals in 2006.

Ronaldo’s continued involvement during the tournament was also questioned.

Critics said his presence influenced coach Roberto Martinez’s selection despite the team’s talented players such as Goncalo Ramos, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes.

Ronaldo scored three goals in the World Cup but his overall performance was also criticised.

On the other hand, coach Roberto Martinez announced his resignation after the match, calling Ronaldo a great football icon and saying that he worked hard to win the World Cup and set a great example for young players.