Ronaldo: decision on Portugal can wait, last World Cup is over

Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup ended in a sting in the Spanish tail as Mikel Merino’s last-gasp winner secured a 1-0 last-16 victory for Spain on Monday. But the Portugal forward was reluctant to make a quick decision on his international future.

Ronaldo told reporters in the mixed zone that Spain had “a bit of luck” to score through substitute Merino in the dying stages of a match that could have gone either way.”I am sad to leave the World Cup like this,” he remarked.I tried my best. I did my best and I am departing with a clear mind. “Yes it was my last World Cup, but now I’ll have time to reflect and be with my family. I’m not going to do anything rash.”

The 41-year-old did not clarify if he had played his last game for Portugal, adding he did not want a personal choice to overshadow the team’s performance.’I don’t make decisions in the heat of the moment,’ he remarked.

“I am proud of what I have done for the national team,” Ronaldo, who was part of the Portugal side that won the 2016 European Championship and Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025, stated.“I’ve won three titles for Portugal. Portugal didn’t win a single title before Cristiano Ronaldo,” he remarked.”The 2016 European Championship is the biggest title the national team has won and frankly that means as much to me as a World Cup.”

Roberto Martinez also departed as manager following Portugal’s exit and Ronaldo had kind words for the Spaniard.“I loved working with him,” he remarked. “Great manager, great human being and what he has done for Portugal is praiseworthy. I want to thank him and wish him every happiness…”Always a disappointment to be knocked out of a major competition. It is a World Cup. The crew was really starting to come together. I think we played good. It could have gone either way but that’s football. We have to pick ourselves up and carry on.”It’s frustrating to go out like this but we can hold our heads high,” the Al-Nassr forward added.