Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 in the World Cup round of 16, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth and final World Cup tournament. Ronaldo had confirmed before the match that this would be his last World Cup. According to reports, the match marked the conclusion of Ronaldo's record-setting World Cup career.
Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in the World Cup round of 16 on Tuesday, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's international tournament career. Ronaldo had confirmed days earlier that the 2026 World Cup would be his last, saying in an interview with journalist Ben Goldfriend (N12): "Yes, this is my last World Cup, and the most important thing is to enjoy it." The 41-year-old forward, playing in his record sixth World Cup, scored twice in the group stage to become the first player to score in six different editions. Portugal advanced from the group stage after a draw with Colombia and a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan before falling to Spain in the knockout round. Ronaldo's final match continues a wave of international retirements following the tournament; Brazil's Neymar also announced his retirement from the national team after Brazil's elimination.
2 developments
- StrongRonaldo confirms 2026 World Cup is his last, ahead of Portugal's round-of-16 match
- StrongPortugal routs Uzbekistan 5-0, Ronaldo scores twice in record sixth World Cup
- DevelopingPortugal beats Croatia 2-1 in added time, reaches World Cup round of 16
- DevelopingRonaldo starts for Portugal in his sixth World Cup, facing Congo tonight
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