London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025

What happens to Ronaldo’s career after Portugal’s World Cup exit?

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal career is hanging in the balance following the national team’s crushing 1-0 loss to Morocco in the World Cup’s quarter-final stage.

Ronaldo, 37, one of the greatest ever to play the game, has never won the tournament, and likely never will following Morocco’s breathtaking and historic upset of Portugal on Saturday night in Qatar.

As Morocco’s bench stormed the field in elation, setting Al Thumama Stadium alight and triggering celebrations across Africa and the Arab world, the cameras were quick to pan to the Portuguese captain.

The contrast, by comparison, was striking.

Ronaldo briskly exited the field, took a final stoic glance at the crowd before cupping his hand over his face in utter disappointment.

Notably, he exited the pitch unaccompanied by teammates, apparently sobbing, as he strode past reporters, camerapeople and FIFA staff towards the Portuguese dressing room. He was almost completely alone.

Ronaldo has yet to comment on his future.



If Qatar is indeed the end, it will be a bittersweet conclusion to a legendary career for the Portuguese player.

Ronaldo’s biggest moment at the tournament – when he became the only male player in history to score a goal in five separate World Cups – will surely be remembered for generations.

Ronaldo holds the world record as the all-time overall leading scorer in international play with 118 international goals in 196 matches. He is also a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, the recipient of four European Golden Shoes and has seven league titles under his belt.

In October, he scored the 700th goal of his club career for Manchester United.


Cristiano Ronaldo on the Portuguese bench during Portugal’s clash with Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022

The 2022 World Cup, though, was surely a rollercoaster of ups and downs.

Notably, Ronaldo was benched in Portugal’s first knockout round 6-1 demolition of Switzerland – the first time since 2008 – after he angrily reacted to being substituted against South Korea in the side’s final group match. Reports later swirled that he had threatened to walk out on the Portuguese squad amid their World Cup run. Portugal denied those reports.

On Saturday, Ronaldo again was relegated to the bench by head coach Fernando Santos, who gave his replacement, Gonçalo Ramos, the nod after he scored a hat-trick in the match against Switzerland.

“No regrets,” Santos said of his decision not to start his captain for the second consecutive match.

“Cristiano is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary. We have no regret.”

Ronaldo was not subbed onto the pitch until the 51st minute, and as he rushed onto the field, he swapped the captain’s armband with veteran defender Pepe before turning his attention to his remaining teammates, whom he desperately urged to press on.

His late-game cameo was met with a resounding chorus of jeers at Al Thumama Stadium, where Portugal fans were vastly outnumbered by Morocco supporters. As the final whistle neared, Ronaldo threw his arms up to the Portugal fans, in a last-ditch attempt to rouse the crowd.

He nearly generated a scoring chance in the 82nd minute, setting up teammate João Félix, whose shot was denied by Morocco’s goalkeeper. In the end, Ronaldo and the team were unable to repair the damage done by Morocco’s Youssef En Nesyri, whose game-winning header in the 42nd minute was enough to carry the Atlas Lions to the World Cup semi-finals.

As a tearful Ronaldo broke for the locker rooms, his teammates, still paralysed by the loss, lingered on the field to interact and thank the Portugal supporters.

Former Spain international Javier Martinez said he did not believe Ronaldo would continue with the national team, adding he could understand the Portuguese superstar’s reaction.

“This was maybe the last chance he got to win a World Cup,” Martinez told Al Jazeera. “Such a player like him, he deserved a World Cup and he’s very disappointed.”

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup on November 24, making him the only player in history to have scored in five World Cups


Portugal, who edged Ghana and shut out Uruguay, before being upset 2-1 by South Korea in the group stages, have not advanced beyond the last 16 since their fourth-place finish at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Seleção das Quinas finished third in 1966. The team has never won a World Cup.

Ronaldo, who exits Qatar having never scored a knockout round goal, will now transition back to an uncertain club future.

Days into the tournament, Ronaldo was dropped by Manchester United with “immediate effect” after he conducted an explosive interview on the eve of the World Cup, in which he sharply criticised manager Erik ten Hag.

Ronaldo has weathered his fair share of on- and off-the-field controversies over the past two decades, but he may now be entering the toughest stage of his career.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
×