---
title: "Tears in Dallas: Ronaldo Ends His World Cup Era, Losing to Spain in 2026"
description: "Cristiano Ronaldo ended his World Cup era in tears. 🇵🇹 The Portuguese national team lost to Spain (0:1) and was eliminated from the tournament. The 41-year-old captain leaves the World Cups with a record of 6 tournaments, while coach Roberto Martinez resigns. ⚽️💔"
date: 2026-07-07T07:58:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/tears-in-dallas-ronaldo-ends-his-world-cup-era-losing-to-spain-in-2026
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Tears in Dallas: Ronaldo Ends His World Cup Era, Losing to Spain in 2026

![Cristiano Ronaldo in the red Portugal national team jersey smiling despite losing to Spain at the 2026 World Cup in Dallas](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/07/ronaldu-zavershil-epokhu-na-chm-2026-ustupiv-ispanii/ronaldu-zavershil-epokhu-na-chm-2026-ustupiv-ispanii-1.webp)

The World Cup in the United States was not just a sporting tournament for Cristiano Ronaldo, but an emotional finale to his career on the planet's biggest stage. The Portuguese national team was eliminated in the round of 16, losing narrowly to Spain with a score of 0:1. For the 41-year-old captain, this match in Dallas was his last at a World Cup, and the football legend could not hold back his emotions after the final whistle.

### The Last Chance and a Fateful Mistake

Ronaldo started in the lineup and played all 90 minutes, trying to keep his team's chances of reaching the quarter-finals alive until the very end. The Portuguese had a real chance to open the scoring in the first half: in the 37th minute, Cristiano played sharply for a follow-up, but Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon made a brilliant save, clearing the ball off the goal line.

The outcome of the absolutely even match was decided in stoppage time. In the 90+1 minute, Mikel Merino scored the goal. This goal sent the Spanish to the quarter-finals and simultaneously put a full stop to the history of Ronaldo's participation in World Cups.

### Emotional Finale

After the game ended, Cristiano walked in circles for a long time, applauding the stands, but on the way to the locker room he could not hold back his tears, which was captured by TV cameras. Before the match, the footballer had already warned that this was his final tournament of such scale.

"It is frustrating to leave like this. I gave everything I had and leave the tournament with a clear conscience. This is football life, we must move on," Ronaldo admitted after the defeat.

According to the player himself, he now needs time to be with his family and reflect on what happened, not wanting to say anything extra "in the heat of the moment".

### Records and the Future

Ronaldo leaves the World Cups with unique achievements: he played in 6 consecutive tournaments (from 2006 to 2026), played 27 matches and scored 11 goals. At the current championship, he scored three goals, scoring a brace against Uzbekistan (5:0) and converting a penalty in the match against Croatia (2:1). The Portuguese player's highest achievement on the world stage remains the semi-final of 2006.

Fan expectations that he would play at the home World Cup 2030, which Portugal will host jointly with Spain and Morocco, will not be fulfilled — by that time Cristiano will be 45 years old.

### Coach's Departure

Along with the captain, the team is also leaving the head coach Roberto Martinez. The Spanish specialist immediately after the defeat declared that he would not extend his expiring contract. Martinez has been leading the national team since the beginning of 2023, achieving 32 wins in 45 matches and winning the Nations League 2024/25.

"This is the end of a cycle, the team needs a new voice. I take with me wonderful memories of these three and a half years, they were among the best in my life. Now the federation president has time and opportunities to calmly choose a new coach," The Athletic quotes the specialist.

The updated Portuguese national team will start its journey in September in the Nations League, where it will play in one group with Norway, Denmark and Wales. The new season will pass without Roberto Martinez on the bench and without Cristiano Ronaldo in the plans for the next World Cup.