Cristiano Ronaldo Reflects on Legacy after World Cup Exit

Cristiano Ronaldo expressed deep emotions while exiting the World Cup after Portugal's loss to Spain. In the mixed zone, he reflected on the match, stating, "It was a very contested game, Spain had that little bit of luck to score in the final minutes, but that’s football. It was a well-fought match." Ronaldo, upset about leaving the tournament in this manner, remarked, "I'm sad to exit like this from the World Cup, but as I said yesterday in the press conference, I’ve given my all, I’ve done my best, and I leave with a clear conscience. That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer; sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you must move on."

Highlighting his career, he noted, "I leave with a clear conscience, I’ve done my best, I’ve won three titles for Portugal before Cristiano won any titles, so I am happy. Honestly, the greatest title I won with the national team was in 2016; for me, it holds the same significance as a World Cup. That’s why I repeat, I leave with a clear conscience, having given my best."

Looking towards the future, he stated, "I want to do it with a cool head, calmly deciding the best way forward, talking with my family, talking with the people who love me. I won’t decide now, because I think that would divert attention to something personal, and I won’t do that. But I am also calm because I’ve given my best."

On his experience with the coach Roberto Martínez, he said, "I loved working with Roberto. He is a great person and an excellent technician. He won a title for Portugal, and I will never forget that. I am very grateful for everything he gave to Portugal. Regarding Jorge Jesus? It’s not the time to talk about who will come. It’s not my job to say. Whoever has the responsibility to choose will decide."