The soccer World Cup ended with bitter tears for Cristiano Ronaldo: The superstar was eliminated with Portugal in the quarterfinals against Morocco, and he himself was downgraded to part-time work. Now he talks about his future.
Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has finally given up his dream of winning the world championship with Portugal after losing out in the quarter-finals in Qatar. "Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career," wrote the 37-year-old on Instagram in his first public reaction to the 1-0 loss to Morocco. "Unfortunately, the dream ended yesterday." After the World Cup, the captain left the field in tears and was initially silent.
Ronaldo had played his fifth World Cup in Qatar. The superstar, who is currently without a club, probably no longer believes in another attempt to win the title in 2026 at the age of 41. "Luckily I've won many international titles, including for Portugal, but representing our country's name at the top of the world was my biggest dream," he wrote. "I fought for this. I fought hard for this dream." He "gave everything" for this wish, wrote the offensive player, who scored a total of eight World Cup goals for Portugal, one of them in Qatar.
Specifically, the 196-time player and international world record holder did not comment on his future in the national team. "Not much more to say right now," he wrote. He hopes that time can be a good guide, allowing everyone to "draw their own conclusions."
After the sportingly disappointing tournament for Ronaldo, which not only brought collective disappointment with his elimination in the quarter-finals, but also the final end for him as the untouchable football saint of the team with two substitutions in a row, his career in his country's jersey is to be continued extremely questionable. There had been numerous debates surrounding his demotion.
Among other things, it was reported that Ronaldo had threatened to leave Qatar. "I have always been one who fought for everyone's goal and I would never turn my back on my teammates and my country," Ronaldo wrote. Much has been written and speculated. "But my commitment to Portugal hasn't changed for a second."
The five-time world footballer is currently without a contract after being forced to leave his club Manchester United after a critical interview, and subsequent employment at a major European club currently seems impossible.
Instead, according to persistent reports in the Spanish media, Ronaldo's well-paid career autumn could take place in Saudi Arabia, which is insignificant in terms of football. If it goes on for him at all: In the minutes after the Portuguese low blow, rumors of an immediate end to the career of the world's most popular footballer also wafted through the catacombs of Doha's Al-Thumama Stadium.
