New York: Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his unwavering support for Portugal after the national team’s heartbreaking FIFA World Cup Round of 16 exit against Spain, while choosing not to make an immediate decision on his future in international football.
Shortly after Portugal’s elimination, the veteran forward took to Instagram and shared a photograph of the squad gathered in a team huddle with the caption, “Portugal Sempre” (“Portugal Forever”), a message that reflected his continued commitment to the national side despite growing speculation over whether he will continue representing Portugal.
Portugal’s World Cup campaign came to an end after a late goal from Mikel Merino sealed Spain’s victory in the Round of 16. Ronaldo, who had earlier confirmed that the 2026 edition would be his final FIFA World Cup, was visibly emotional as he left the field following the defeat. Portugal created several scoring opportunities during the match, but neither Ronaldo nor teammates, including Bruno Fernandes, were able to convert their chances.
Speaking after the match, Ronaldo acknowledged that his FIFA World Cup journey had concluded but said he would not make any “rash decisions” regarding his international future, leaving open the possibility of continuing to represent Portugal in other competitions.
The tournament also saw Ronaldo add several milestones to his remarkable career. During Portugal’s Round of 32 victory over Croatia, he became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to feature in a knockout-stage match at the age of 41 or older. The fixture also marked the first World Cup match to feature two outfield players aged 40 and above, with Ronaldo lining up against former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modrić.
Ronaldo further extended his record by becoming the oldest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup knockout history, finding the net at the age of 41 years and 147 days. The strike was also his first goal in a World Cup knockout match.
Portugal opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo before registering a convincing 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. Ronaldo scored twice in that match to become Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing the previous record held by Portuguese great Eusébio. The brace also made him the first footballer to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, further extending his list of international achievements.
The Portuguese side later played out a goalless draw against Colombia before advancing to the knockout stage, where their campaign ultimately ended against Spain.
Ronaldo concludes his FIFA World Cup career with 27 appearances—the second-highest by any player in the tournament’s history—and 11 goals across six editions of the competition. While his World Cup journey has now come to an end, the 41-year-old has yet to announce whether he will continue representing Portugal beyond the global tournament.
His latest message, “Portugal Forever,” has further fuelled speculation over his international future, with football fans now awaiting his final decision on the next chapter of his storied career.
