‘That's the life of a footballer’: Teary eyed Cristiano Ronaldo breaks down after Portugal’s FIFA World Cup elimination - Watch viral video

FIFA World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-cherished dream of lifting the FIFA World Cup came to a heartbreaking conclusion on Monday, July 6, 2026. Portugal’s campaign ended in disappointment as they were eliminated from the tournament after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16. The defeat drew the curtain on Ronaldo’s storied World Cup career. The iconic forward confirmed that this clash would be his final outing on football’s grandest stage, officially ending any prospect of a seventh World Cup appearance.

Spain substitute Mikel Merino broke through a stubborn Portugal defence in the 91st minute to earn his side a 1-0 win and take theme into the quarter-finals. The midfielder scored six minutes after coming off the bench to take the European champions into the last eight.

As the match came to an end, an emotional Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to hold back his tears as he slowly walked in the field, visibly shattered by the result. The 41-year-old Portugal captain, who is considered as one of the best to have played the game, says he will now go away and think about what comes next. He has won it all in a trophy-laden career at some of Europe's biggest clubs, and tasted European glory with his country.



But among his bulging trophy cabinet there will be no World Cup winners medal, and he was largely ineffectual as he huffed and puffed through a disappointing last-16 clash in Texas.

Ronaldo breaks silence after World Cup elimination

"That's football, that's the life of a footballer," he was quoted by AFP as saying as he struggled to raise his voice above the crushing disappointment. "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on."

Ronaldo, the leading scorer in the history of men's international football, said he would leave the World Cup stage "with a clear conscience". "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 said.

Ronaldo's best World Cup will always remain the semi-finals 20 years ago. The 41-year-old first played at the finals at Germany 2006, scoring his maiden tournament goal against IR Iran, and helping the Seleção das Quinas to a first semi-final in 40 years. He went on to play, and score at least one goal, at South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.