Portugal: at 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo does not plan to take his international retirement.

The curtain may have fallen on Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup story. After Portugal’s defeat to Spain in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner admitted that this competition probably marked his last appearance in the biggest international tournament. As a starter and captain of the Seleção, the Portuguese forward could not prevent his team’s elimination against La Roja. A painful exit for the 41-year-old player, who was participating in his sixth World Cup, a record in the competition’s history.

After the match, Ronaldo confirmed that his World Cup journey was likely nearing its end, while leaving uncertainty about his future with the Portuguese national team. “The truth is that this was my last World Cup. For the rest, I will have time to think about it, to be with my family, not to make rash decisions, and I will continue my life,” he stated. Despite the disappointment of this elimination, the Portuguese captain assured that he was leaving the competition without regrets, convinced that he had given his all in the national jersey. “Naturally, I am sad to exit the World Cup this way, but I gave everything, I did my best, and I leave with a clear conscience,” he explained.

Aware of the realities of high-level football, Ronaldo also reminded that successes and failures are part of a player’s journey. “This is football, this is a player’s life: sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to keep going,” he concluded. While his international future remains uncertain, Cristiano Ronaldo leaves this World Cup with an immense legacy. The all-time top scorer for the Portuguese national team and a major figure in world football, he can now focus on the final chapters of an exceptional career.