Ronaldo's final World Cup ends in heartbreak
The iconic career of Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup ended in tears on Monday night as Portugal were dumped out in the last-16 by Iberian neighbours Spain. A stoppage-time strike from Mikel Merino sealed a 1-0 win at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, extinguishing the 41-year-old's last hope of winning the one trophy that has eluded him.
Ronaldo, who had already announced this tournament would be his sixth and final World Cup, was visibly distraught at the final whistle, consoled by team-mates as he left the pitch for the last time on football's biggest stage. The defeat also brought an end to Roberto Martinez's tenure as Portugal head coach, with the Spaniard confirming his departure in the post-match press conference.
Merino's late strike sends Spain through
In a tense and uninspiring encounter, Spain enjoyed the majority of possession but struggled to break down a stubborn Portuguese defence. Just when the game seemed destined for extra-time, substitute Merino latched onto a clever pass from Ferran Torres in the second minute of added time and calmly slotted past goalkeeper Diogo Costa to send Spain into the quarter-finals.
Portugal's best opportunities fell to Ronaldo, but the Al-Nassr forward was unable to convert, managing just 19 touches across the 90 minutes and creating only one chance for a team-mate in what was a subdued performance.
Sutton savages 'pathetic' Martinez
BBC pundit and former England striker Chris Sutton did not hold back in his assessment of Portugal's approach, labelling Martinez's insistence on starting Ronaldo as "pathetic".
"He's waddling around the field like a grandad, that's why Portugal are out," Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "Cristiano Ronaldo does nothing; he did nothing. What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you pander to a player so much? Portugal are out because of Roberto Martinez."
Sutton also questioned why in-form striker Goncalo Ramos, who recently joined AC Milan, did not feature. "How did Goncalo Ramos not get on the pitch? It's an absolute embarrassment from the manager, just pandering to his star player."
Martinez defends decision to stick with Ronaldo
Martinez, however, stood by his selection and paid tribute to Ronaldo after the game, calling him a "football icon".
"When you need a goal you cannot take Cristiano off, at least in 90 minutes, he is physically capable - his presence, open space, dead-ball situations, we need his experience," Martinez said. "His dream was to win this World Cup, he did this with an amazing example."
Despite the criticism, Ronaldo finished the tournament with three goals - a double against Uzbekistan and a penalty against Croatia - but his overall impact was limited. He registered more shots (18) than all but four players at the competition, yet only Erling Haaland (seven goals) matched his shot count among the top scorers, highlighting a lack of efficiency.
What next for Ronaldo?
While this was certainly his last World Cup, Ronaldo remained non-committal on his international future. "I will meet the family and take decisions with a calm head," he told reporters. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has scored a record 146 international goals, still dreams of leading Portugal in the next European Championship, but whether a new manager will continue to build the attack around him is uncertain.
With Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and a core of Champions League winners in their squad, Portugal have the talent to transition into a new era. The question is whether they can finally break the cycle of dependence on their ageing legend.
Key Takeaways
- Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup match ended in defeat as Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the last-16.
- Manager Roberto Martinez announced his departure after the game amid heavy criticism for persisting with Ronaldo.
- Ronaldo managed just 19 touches and created one chance, prompting pundit Chris Sutton to label his selection "pathetic".
- Mikel Merino's stoppage-time winner sent Spain through to the quarter-finals.
- Ronaldo left the pitch in tears and said he will decide on his international future after speaking with his family.
Quick Facts
Final score: Portugal 0-1 Spain
Goal scorer: Mikel Merino (90+2')
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas
Ronaldo's touches: 19
Chances created by Ronaldo: 1
Ronaldo's shots at 2026 World Cup: 18
Portugal's best World Cup finish: Semi-finals (2006)
Sources: BBC Sport, Sky Sports