Future open after quarter-finals
Cristiano Ronaldo has finally given up his dream of winning the World Cup with Portugal after being eliminated in the quarter-finals in Qatar. “Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career,” wrote the 37-year-old on Instagram in his first public reaction to the 0-1 draw against Morocco on Sunday. “Unfortunately, the dream came to an end yesterday.” After the World Cup, the captain left the field in tears and was initially silent.
Ronaldo had played his fifth World Cup in Qatar. The superstar, who is currently without a club, apparently no longer believes in another attempt to win the title in 2026 at the age of 41 – in the history of the World Cup there have been seven players over the age of 40. “Luckily I’ve won many international titles, including for Portugal, but representing our country’s name at the top of the world was my biggest dream,” he wrote. “I fought for that. I fought hard for this dream.”
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He “gave everything” for this wish, wrote the offensive force, who scored a total of eight World Cup goals for Portugal, one of them in Qatar. Specifically, the 196-time player and international world record holder did not comment on his future in the national team. “Not much more to say right now,” he wrote. He hopes that time can be a good guide that allows everyone to “draw their own conclusions”.
The five-time world footballer was only used as a joker in the two knockout games in Qatar. There had been numerous debates surrounding his demotion. Among other things, it was reported that Ronaldo had threatened to leave Qatar. “I have always been one who fought for everyone’s goal and I would never turn my back on my teammates and my country,” Ronaldo wrote. Much has been written and speculated. “But my commitment to Portugal hasn’t changed for a second.”
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