Cristiano Ronaldo has officially acknowledged that he has concluded his World Cup journey, although he is still contemplating his future as he turns 41.
In his 233rd appearance for the national team, Ronaldo’s tenure ended with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Spain, leading to Portugal’s exit in Dallas. Notably, he leaves as the sole player to score in six World Cups, expressing pride in his legacy and emphasizing that Portugal’s triumph at the 2016 European Championship holds equal importance to a World Cup victory. He pointed out that this period has marked the most successful era in the nation’s football history.
“I am sad to leave like this but I have given everything, always given my best,” Ronaldo remarked. “I go with a clear conscience. This is football, it is the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. You have to carry on. It was my last World Cup, yes, but as far as the rest of it is concerned: there will be time to think, to be with my family, [I will] not make decisions in the heat of the moment. “I will wake up tomorrow the same way I woke up today: with a clear conscience. I gave my all. I won three titles with Portugal. Before Cristiano, Portugal had never won a big trophy. The best trophy I won with the national team was 2016, which for me has the same dimension as the World Cup. So I repeat: I leave here with a clear conscience. Tomorrow will be another day and life goes on.”
The head coach of Portugal, Roberto Martínez, lauded the veteran forward despite a lackluster performance against Spain. “I had a word of thanks to him,” Martínez noted. “He has been an exemplary captain. I arrived when there was a lot of confusion and questions in terms of his position in the team. But he has been an example not only in the number of goals he has scored but also in the counterattacks he leads. He is an example, a role model to follow. He is a football icon. There aren’t many Ronaldos out there.
“He has been an exemplary captain. I arrived when there was a lot of confusion and questions in terms of his position in the team. But he has been an example not only in the number of goals he has scored, but also in the counterattacks he leads. He is an example, a role model to follow. He is a football icon. There aren’t many Ronaldos out there. “His dream was to win this World Cup and he did this by being an amazing example within the dressing room,” the manager added. “He is a prime example of football, the athlete, and the human being who is behind that athlete.”
Martínez rejected any suggestions that Ronaldo should have been substituted during what became his final World Cup match. “When you are a team who need a goal you cannot take him off,” he asserted. “He’s physically very capable, in open space and from dead balls; anything in the box, you need his experience. “Probably in extra time would be when you might use the energy of Gonçalo Ramos. Today, we had to keep the structure. It’s not the time to take your centre-forward, your best goalscorer off.”
“I am proud. We played one of the favourites eye-to-eye. The journey we had to be able to play like this. I feel immense pride. Immense pride in our personality and focus.”
This match also marked the end of Martínez’s tenure as Portugal’s manager. “He’s an exceptional player,” he said. “one of the best in his position worldwide. He’s given us a fantastic performance and a fantastic goal. I would go and pick him up and carry him to the national squad if I had to. The contribution of our substitutes has been enormous throughout the tournament.”
On the opposing side, Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, expressed his satisfaction with Mikel Merino’s performance off the bench. “He’s an exceptional player,” he remarked, “one of the best in his position worldwide. He’s given us a fantastic performance and a fantastic goal. I would go and pick him up and carry him to the national squad if I had to. The contribution of our substitutes has been enormous throughout the tournament.”
