One of football’s great careers will finish without the biggest prize after Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup match for Portugal ended with a 1-0 last-16 defeat by Spain.
He was in tears as his World Cup story ended in Dallas with Mikel Merino’s injury-time sending their neighbours through.
The 41-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner, five-time Champions League winner and Euro 2016 champion has scored a world-record 976 goals for his clubs and country.
He has scored at a record six World Cups. But the closest he got to winning it was when Portugal reached the semi-finals in his first tournament in 2006.
He had already announced this would be his final World Cup – but said afterwards “I will meet the family and take decisions with a calm head” when asked if he would keep playing for his country.
Whether Portugal would have had a better chance of winning this World Cup without the pressure to start Al-Nassr’s Ronaldo in each game will remain open to debate.
Boss Roberto Martinez announced he was leaving the job after the final whistle and praised “football icon” Ronaldo.
He said “We need to thank him for what he tried to do at this World Cup,” adding :”His dream was to win this World Cup, he did this with an amazing example. “He is a prime example of football and the human being that is behind that athlete.”
