Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from the FIFA World Cup following Portugal’s exit in the Round of 16 at the hands of Spain at Dallas Stadium. The 41-year-old, with 27 World Cup appearances, has decided not to return for a seventh global finals, ending his career without the coveted major trophy.
During his World Cup journey, Ronaldo scored 11 goals in 27 matches, setting various records, including being the first player to score in six editions of the tournament. In the recent World Cup, he netted three goals, with notable performances in Portugal’s matches against Uzbekistan and Croatia.
Expressing his feelings after the game, Ronaldo stated, “I’m fine, sad to leave the World Cup this way. But, as I said yesterday in the press conference, I gave my best and I leave with a clear conscience.” He emphasized the unpredictable nature of football and mentioned that he will take time with his family before making any decisions about his future.
Ronaldo’s World Cup journey began in 2006 at Germany, where he scored his first tournament goal against Iran and helped Portugal reach their first semi-final in four decades. Despite his successes in other competitions, including winning the European Championship in 2016 and two UEFA Nations League titles, the World Cup title remained elusive for him.
