Cristiano Ronaldo Retires From World Cup After Portugal's Round of 16 Exit

Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from World Cup tournaments following Portugal's 1-0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 in Dallas. The defeat was sealed by Mikel Merino's goal in stoppage time, ending Portugal's run and marking the conclusion of Ronaldo's World Cup career with 27 appearances, second only to Lionel Messi's 30. At 41, Ronaldo was emotional after the match, wiping tears and applauding Portuguese fans.

Ronaldo confirmed this World Cup was his last but left open the possibility of continuing with the national team in other competitions. He expressed sadness over the exit but said he leaves with a clear conscience, having given his all. Despite his illustrious career, the World Cup title eluded him, with his best finish being a semifinal appearance in 2006. Ronaldo remains the all-time top scorer in international football with 146 goals and holds the record for most national team appearances at 233.

He highlighted Portugal's Euro 2016 victory as equally significant to a World Cup win, emphasizing his three major titles with the national team. Portugal's coach, Roberto Martinez, praised Ronaldo as an exemplary captain and role model, noting his commitment and influence on and off the pitch. Martinez defended keeping Ronaldo on the field for the full 90 minutes against Spain, citing his ability to create opportunities and his importance to the team's structure.

Ronaldo scored three goals in this World Cup and is the only player to have scored in six different World Cups. However, Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon extended his clean sheet streak to 609 minutes, limiting Ronaldo's chances in the decisive match. Ronaldo's World Cup goal tally stands at 11, placing him ninth on the tournament's all-time scoring list.