NEWS
Forever Unfulfilled: Ronaldo Fails in His Sixth Attempt Too
It was not meant to be. CR7 and Portugal have been eliminated by Spain. Bitter disappointment prevails after the match.
Cristiano Ronaldo fails in his sixth attempt to win the World Cup title.
A last-minute goal from Mikel Merino seals the bitter exit of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and dramatically ends his World Cup career (to the match report >>>).
Despite the disappointment, Portugal's departing coach Roberto Martinez (read more >>>) expressed pride in his team's performance. Speaking to "ZDF", he stated: "The Portuguese can be proud of their team and the players. It was a great shame, we also hit the crossbar. We deserved extra time."
"Early Final"
Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente echoed this sentiment: "It was a match between two equally matched teams. It was an early final. We brought the necessary energy to win the game in the end."
Substitute Mikel Merino ultimately provided the decisive impulse. Regarding his match-winner, de la Fuente said: "I told Merino that we should play as always. His job is to support the midfield and the attackers. With him, we wanted to give the team the rhythm and energy it needed."
Ronaldo's Record: Only One World Cup Semifinal
Thus ends Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career. Ronaldo was actually closest to the World Cup title at his first World Cup in 2006, when he and Portugal only failed against France in the semifinals and ultimately finished fourth.
At the 2010 and 2018 World Cups, the round of 16 was the final stop, followed by elimination in the quarter-finals in 2022. In 2014, Portugal had to return home after the group stage.
Accordingly, the disappointment was great after the final whistle. "Of course, we are disappointed. We came here with the goal of winning the title. Unfortunately, we did not reach our best level today," says Bruno Fernandes.
