Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career ends as Portugal falls to Spain
ESPN Soccer • 2 min read • Latest: Jul 6, 2026, 9:17 PM
Last updated Jul 6, 2026
Portugal faced Spain in the Round of 16 during the 2026 World Cup, marking the emotional end of Cristiano Ronaldo's international career. Portugal lost 0–1 after a goal from Spain's Merino in stoppage time. Ronaldo had announced prior to the match that it would be his last World Cup, and he was visibly emotional at the final whistle. This defeat concludes Ronaldo's journey with the national team, leaving him without a World Cup title in his illustrious career. Following this match, Spain advances to the quarter-finals.
- •Portugal loses 0–1 to Spain in the Round of 16.
- •Merino scored for Spain in stoppage time.
- •Ronaldo confirms this is his last World Cup.
- •His emotional farewell becomes an iconic moment.
- •Spain advances to the quarter-finals after the victory.
- 10:57 PMESPN Soccer — Ronaldo exits in tears as Spain end final World Cu...
- 10:19 PMYahoo Sports — Tearful Ronaldo exits World Cup stage on downbeat note
- 9:42 PMYahoo Sports — 📸 For the last time; Cristiano Ronaldo in tears after final World Cup match 😪
- 9:36 PMYahoo Sports — Cristiano Ronaldo fights back tears after his final World Cup appearance for Portugal
- 9:17 PMYahoo Sports — 😢 Tears at the end! Ronaldo's World Cup career ends against Spain
- 9:16 PMYahoo Sports — 😢 Cristiano's historic goodbye, in tears after Portugal defeat
"Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo had tears in his eyes as he applauded supporters following the end of his World Cup dream on Monday. The last-gasp 1-0 defeat to rivals Spain in the last 16 surely means the 41-year-old will never grace a World Cup game again as a player after 27 matches and no global title.
"Cristiano Ronaldo's dreams of ending his career with a stunning World Cup win are over after Mikel Merino's late goal saw Spain progress past Portugal.Understandably, the iconic number seven could not...
"Spain defeated Portugal in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, bringing the World Cup journey of a true legend like Cristiano Ronaldo to an end.The forward, who had announced the day before that th...
Sources
External links- ESPN SoccerJul 6, 2026, 10:57 PMRonaldo exits in tears as Spain end final World Cu...
Cristiano Ronaldo exited his final World Cup in tears as Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the round of 16 in Arlington, Texas, on Monday.
- Yahoo SportsJul 6, 2026, 10:19 PMTearful Ronaldo exits World Cup stage on downbeat note
Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo had tears in his eyes as he applauded supporters following the end of his World Cup dream on Monday. The last-gasp 1-0 defeat to rivals Spain in the last 16 surely means the 41-year-old will never grace a World Cup game again as a player after 27 matches and no global title.
- Yahoo SportsJul 6, 2026, 9:42 PM📸 For the last time; Cristiano Ronaldo in tears after final World Cup match 😪
Cristiano Ronaldo's dreams of ending his career with a stunning World Cup win are over after Mikel Merino's late goal saw Spain progress past Portugal.Understandably, the iconic number seven could not...
- Yahoo SportsJul 6, 2026, 9:36 PMCristiano Ronaldo fights back tears after his final World Cup appearance for Portugal
Ronaldo said before Portugal's loss to Spain that his sixth World Cup would be his last.
- Yahoo SportsJul 6, 2026, 9:17 PM😢 Tears at the end! Ronaldo's World Cup career ends against Spain
Who’s cutting onions? After Portugal’s elimination against Spain (0–1), emotions ran high. Cristiano Ronaldo had already said beforehand that this would be his last World Cup. The tournament—...
- Yahoo SportsJul 6, 2026, 9:16 PM😢 Cristiano's historic goodbye, in tears after Portugal defeat
Spain defeated Portugal in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, bringing the World Cup journey of a true legend like Cristiano Ronaldo to an end.The forward, who had announced the day before that th...
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
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