Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career has ended after Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 on Monday, in Arlington, Texas. Mikel Merino scored the only goal of the match in the 91st minute.
Ronaldo had said before the match that this would be his last World Cup. He finishes with 27 appearances across six tournaments, 11 goals, and a record of being the first player to score in six different editions of the competition.
Appearances
Ronaldo played at the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cups. His 27 appearances are the second-highest total in the tournament’s history, behind only Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who has made 30 appearances. Messi’s tally could still increase, as Argentina remain in the competition.
Goals
Ronaldo scored 11 goals across his six World Cups, a tally that ties him for ninth on the all-time World Cup scoring list. His goals came in different circumstances: two against Uzbekistan in this year’s group stage, a penalty against Croatia in the round of 32 this year, and a hat-trick against Spain in a 3-3 draw at the 2018 tournament, a group-stage match regarded as one of that edition’s best, though neither side advanced from that particular group.
Tournament-by-tournament
• 2006: Ronaldo, then 21, helped Portugal reach the semi-finals, where they lost to France.
• 2010: Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain.
• 2014: Portugal did not advance from the group stage.
• 2018: Ronaldo scored his hat-trick against Spain in the group stage; Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16 by Uruguay.
• 2022: Portugal reached the quarterfinals, where they lost to Morocco. Ronaldo, then 37, left the pitch in tears.
• 2026: Ronaldo scored three goals in the group and knockout stages; Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain.
Records
Ronaldo became the first player to score at six different World Cups after his goal against Uzbekistan this year. He also finishes as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament.
Ronaldo’s international trophy tally includes three titles with Portugal, among them the 2016 European Championship, which he has said he considers on the same level as a World Cup. He did not win a World Cup across his six appearances at the tournament. The 2026 World Cup is ongoing, with the quarterfinal round yet to be completed.
Source: Fawzi Kehinde, Punch Newspaper
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