BREAKING: Spain Defeat Portugal To End Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup Career – #FIFAWorldCup
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S final World Cup clash ended in heartbreak as Portugal suffered a last-16 defeat to Spain.
The Manchester United legend, 41, revealed before the game this would be his last tournament.
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S final World Cup clash ended in heartbreak as Portugal suffered a last-16 defeat to Spain.
The Manchester United legend, 41, revealed before the game this would be his last tournament.
Sadly for the footballing great, it was.
Ronaldo cut a shell-shocked figure at full-time as he stood on the pitch taking in his last international game.
The defeat means he will never equal his arch-rival Lionel Messi, who won the trophy in 2022 and could add to that tally this summer.
Mikel Merino scored a 91st-minute winner as Spain beat neighbours Portugal 1-0 to end Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career and progress to the quarter-finals.
Portugal’s record goalscorer Ronaldo confirmed on Sunday that the 2026 World Cup will be his last, and the 2010 world champions dashed his hopes of signing off by winning the trophy as they left it late to produce a telling moment of attacking quality in a game in which it was surprisingly lacking.
Spain had the better of the first half and saw several opportunities to break the deadlock go begging, but it looked as if extra time would be required to seal their place in the last eight as the second half proved a largely uninspiring event.
But two substitutes combined to settle the tie in Spain’s favour as Ferran Torres’ reverse pass sent Merino through on goal, with the Arsenal man making no mistake with a cool finish to seal a first knockout win for Spain since their triumph in the 2010 final.
The reigning European champions will face either the United States or Belgium in the quarter-finals, with Ronaldo exiting the stage in meek fashion after a defeat that is also expected to spell the end of Roberto Martinez’s time as Portugal coach.
