Cristiano Ronaldo Confirms Last World Cup Appearance, Future Uncertain

Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that he has played his last World Cup game, but said that even at 41 he has not yet made a decision about his future.

Twenty-three years after making his debut, the Portugal captain’s 233rd game for his national team ended in a late 1-0 defeat against Spain that led to elimination in Dallas. He departs as the only man to have ever scored at six World Cups and he said he does so at peace, claiming that Portugal’s European Championship win in 2016 is as big as a world title and noting that his era has been the most successful in the country’s history.

“I am sad to leave like this but I have given everything, always given my best,” Ronaldo said. “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 Portugal manager, Roberto Martínez had nothing but praise for the 41-year-old forward despite another unimpressive display here against Spain. “I had a word of thanks to him,” Martínez said. “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 suggestion he should have substituted Ronaldo in what proved to be his final World Cup match. “When you are a team who need a goal you cannot take him off,” he said. “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.”

The defeat was also Martínez’s last game as Portugal manager. “I’m not disappointed,” he said. “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.”