Arlington, United States — Portugal national football team captain Cristiano Ronaldo announced he will not make an immediate decision about his international future after his team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup on Monday, July 6, 2026.
Okay News reports that Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed the match against Spain was his final tournament appearance after the 1-0 defeat at Dallas Stadium. When asked about his future plans, he said: “It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll have time to think about the rest, to be with my family, not make rash decisions, and just get on with life.”
The 41-year-old forward, who is the leading scorer in the history of men’s international football, noted he was departing the tournament without regrets. Cristiano Ronaldo said: “That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on.”
He stated that he would leave the tournament stage with a clear conscience, pointing to his prior international success. Cristiano Ronaldo said: “The truth is, the biggest title I won with the national team was in 2016 (Euros), which for me is just as significant as a World Cup, honestly.”
He added to his statement regarding his career outlook. Cristiano Ronaldo said: “That’s why, I repeat, I’m leaving with a clear conscience, at my best, and that’s it. Tomorrow is a new day, and life goes on.”
The forward won the European championship with his national team a decade ago but never achieved a world title. His highest placement at the tournament occurred 20 years ago when his team reached the semi-finals.
