Ronaldo in Tears as Spain Eliminate Portugal From 2026 World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo broke down in tears following Portugal’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16.
Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal in stoppage time to secure the victory for Spain in the Iberian derby. Cameras captured the 41-year-old Portugal captain crying immediately after the final whistle, with the footage quickly circulating across social media platforms.
The match marked Ronaldo’s final appearance at the tournament. He confirmed before the competition began that the 2026 edition would be his last World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo fights back tears after Portugal's elimination in what could be his final World Cup pic.twitter.com/Dvs3mdEhCp
— Vidol (@imVidol) July 6, 2026
Anticipation surrounding the forward’s reaction was high before the tournament commenced. The betting platform Polymarket created a specific market asking users to predict whether Ronaldo would cry during the event. By mid-June, participants estimated a 70% probability of him shedding tears.
Ronaldo has a history of displaying visible emotion during significant career milestones. He previously cried following Portugal’s defeat in the Euro 2004 final, after sustaining an injury during their victorious Euro 2016 campaign, following their elimination by Morocco at the 2022 World Cup and after missing a penalty against Slovenia at Euro 2024.
