😢 Cristiano's historic goodbye, in tears after Portugal defeat | OneFootball

Spain defeated Portugal in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, bringing the World Cup journey of a true legend like Cristiano Ronaldo to an end.

The forward, who had announced the day before that this would be his last World Cup, left the tournament in tears.

The image of Ronaldo crying after the elimination instantly became one of the iconic moments of the competition. The Portuguese star thus closes a chapter of five World Cups played with his national team.

📸 THOMAS COEX - AFP or licensors

Ronaldo arrived at this tournament as the great historical figure of the Portuguese side. His farewell marks the end of an era for Portuguese football in the biggest international competition.

📸 Stacy Revere - 2026 Getty Images

📸 RONALDO SCHEMIDT - AFP or licensors

Spain, meanwhile, moves on to the quarter-finals after overcoming one of the toughest opponents in the bracket. The result confirms the Spanish team’s strong form in the tournament.

Ronaldo’s farewell reopens the debate about his legacy and Portugal’s future without their historic captain. The Portuguese national team must now face a new chapter without its greatest figure.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 Lars Baron - 2026 Getty Images