Cristiano Ronaldo bids farewell to his World Cup dream without ever lifting the most coveted trophy in football. Following Portugal's elimination against Spain in the Round of 16, the Portuguese captain confirmed that this was his last game in the competition, thus closing a chapter of six participations without achieving the long-desired glory.
At 41 years old, Ronaldo has amassed nearly all possible individual and collective titles—from the Premier League to the Champions League, including the European Championship and multiple Ballon d'Or awards. However, the World Cup remains absent from his accolades, a void that even his legendary status cannot fill. The Portuguese player thus joins a select group of football icons who, despite brilliant careers, have never managed to win the World Cup.
Johan Cruyff, one of the most influential names in football history, also fell short of the title. The Dutchman, who has stadiums named after him and inspired generations, reached the World Cup final in 1974 with the Netherlands, losing to West Germany 2-1, despite having scored first. Four years later, the national team would return to the final, already without Cruyff, who had retired from international football after his family was targeted in a kidnapping attempt in Barcelona. After hanging up his boots, Cruyff shone as a coach, leading Barcelona to its first Champions League title, but he never managed the Dutch national team before passing away in 2016.
Another paradigmatic example is Alfredo Di Stefano. Despite representing three different national teams throughout his career, he never played in a World Cup. The Real Madrid star, winner of five European Cups, was prevented by FIFA from playing for Argentina due to unauthorized matches in Colombia, at a time when the country was internationally suspended. Later, after acquiring Spanish citizenship, Di Stefano helped Spain qualify for the 1962 World Cup, but an injury ultimately sidelined him from the competition.
Paolo Maldini, considered by many to be the perfect defender, also had no luck while serving the Italian national team. The eternal captain of AC Milan participated in four World Cups, reaching the final in 1994, where Italy was defeated on penalties by Brazil after a goalless draw. In 2002, he bid farewell to international competitions after being eliminated in the round of 16.
O MUNDIAL 2026 VIVE-SE COM A LEGO
Ferenc Puskas, one of the greatest legends of Hungarian football, came close to winning the trophy in 1954. With Hungary regarded as the best team at the time, the “Mighty Magyars” lost the final to West Germany in a thrilling match that ended 3-2. Following the defeat and the Hungarian Revolution, many players, including Puskas, went into exile. The forward continued his career in Spain, where he played four times for the Spanish national team, three of them in the 1962 World Cup.
Ronaldo's farewell from the World Cup stage marks the end of an era for Portugal. Despite their unmatched achievements, the World Cup will remain an unattainable conquest for this group of football geniuses, whose greatness is measured not only by trophies but also by the legacy they left on the pitch.
AGORA PODE ACOMPANHAR O MUNDIAL DE FUTEBOL COM TODA INFORMAÇÃO – AQUI
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
