Cristiano Ronaldo says he will take time before deciding the next step in his career after bringing the curtain down on his FIFA World Cup journey with Portugal’s Round of 16 exit to Spain.
The Portugal captain spoke after his side’s 1-0 defeat on Monday, having confirmed before the match that the 2026 tournament would be his final World Cup appearance.
Reflecting on what lies ahead, the 41-year-old 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.”
Ronaldo accepted Portugal’s elimination, saying setbacks are part of football.
He said: “That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer.
“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on.”
The all-time leading scorer in men’s international football said he would leave the World Cup satisfied with everything he had given to the national team.
“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,” 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.”
Ronaldo ends his World Cup career without lifting the trophy, although he helped Portugal win the UEFA European Championship in 2016.
His best World Cup finish came in 2006 when Portugal reached the semi-finals, while his appearance against Spain marked the end of a six-tournament journey on football’s biggest stage.