Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup ended with a Spain sting, thanks to Mikel Merino’s last-gasp winner that sealed a 1-0 last-16 victory on Monday, but he was reluctant to make a hasty call on his international future.
Ronaldo told reporters in the mixed zone that Spain enjoyed “a bit of luck” to score through substitute Merino in the dying moments of a game he believed could have swung either way.
“I’m sad to leave the World Cup like this,” he said.
“I gave everything. I did my best and I leave with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I will now have time to reflect and be with my family. I will not make any hasty decisions.”
The 41-year-old stopped short of confirming whether he had played his last game for Portugal, saying he did not want a personal decision to overshadow the team’s campaign.
“I don’t make decisions in the heat of the moment,” he said.
Ronaldo, who helped Portugal win Euro 2016 plus the Nations League in 2019 and 2025, said he was proud of his contribution to the national team.
“I have won three titles for Portugal; before Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal had not won a single title,” he said.
“The biggest title the national team has ever won was in 2016, the European Championship, which to be honest is as significant to me as a World Cup.”
Portugal’s exit also came with the departure of Roberto Martinez as manager and Ronaldo offered warm words to the Spaniard.
“I loved working with him,” he said. “A great manager, a great person and what he has done for Portugal is to be commended. I want to thank him and wish him all the best…
“It’s always sad to be knocked out of a big tournament. It’s a World Cup. The team was really coming into its own. We played well, in my opinion. It could have gone either way, but that’s football. We have to pick ourselves up and keep going.
“It’s frustrating to go out like this, but we can keep our heads up,” added the Al-Nassr forward.
