Cristiano Ronaldo broke his silence following Portugal's disappointment against Spain, refusing to announce the end of his international career and leaving the future open. At 41 years old, the Portuguese captain experienced a bitter night, unable to make a difference in the 90 minutes on the field, in a match decided by Mikel Merino's late goal, which led to Portugal's elimination in what was his last World Cup.
The Portuguese star admitted to feeling frustrated but did not yield to pressure to clarify whether he would continue to represent the national team. “I don’t make hasty decisions, nor do I want to detract from what was achieved in the World Cup because of a personal decision,” Ronaldo stated moments after the final whistle. The forward also offered an honest assessment of the team's journey: “My evaluation is that we could have done better. We were eliminated by a team that will possibly reach the final or come close to it. It was a well-fought game that could have gone either way. I leave with a clear conscience. We gave our best, I gave my best, and when that happens, there is nothing to regret.”
The departure of Roberto Martinez from the Portuguese coaching position after the defeat also marked the night. The coach justified the decision, admitting that, after the setback, it made little sense to continue in the role. Ronaldo did not hold back in praising the now former coach: “He was someone I loved working with. He is a fantastic human being and a great coach. What he did for Portugal was remarkable and deserves recognition. He won a title for Portugal, which demonstrates the level needed to achieve that. I want to thank him and wish him all the best.”
The national captain also expressed words of discouragement but also of hope, highlighting the team's evolution throughout the competition: “It is always sad to exit a major competition. The team was growing. I think we played a good game, which could have gone either way, but that’s football. We have to hold our heads up and move on. It’s frustrating to leave in this way.”
With the future in suspense, uncertainty hangs over Cristiano Ronaldo's continuation with the national team. The country is now awaiting the captain's decision, whose experience and leadership remain crucial. Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez's cycle ends without the desired glory, leaving the Federation with the task of finding a new leader for the upcoming challenges.
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