Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup Journey: Six Tournaments Without a Title
Cristiano Ronaldo has made history by scoring in six different World Cup tournaments. However, the closest he came to winning the World Cup was in 2006, the year he made his World Cup debut. That year, Portugal advanced to the semifinals. Unfortunately, his final World Cup appearance was not the one he had hoped for. Portugal was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Spain with a 1-0 loss. The decisive goal was scored by Mikel Merino during injury time in the second half in Dallas. This defeat meant that one of football’s greatest players concluded his career without securing the sport’s biggest prize. Ronaldo was visibly emotional after the match, eyes filled with tears.
A five-time Ballon d’Or winner, five-time Champions League champion, and Euro 2016 champion, Ronaldo has scored an astounding 976 goals worldwide for both club and country. His record of scoring in six World Cups is truly remarkable. Yet, the title slipped away in 2006 when Portugal’s run ended in the semifinals. It had been announced beforehand that this would be his final World Cup. After the game, he spoke about his international future, saying, “I will sit with my family and make a calm decision about whether I continue to play for the national team or not.”
There was ongoing debate about whether Ronaldo should have been included in Portugal’s starting eleven for every match in their quest for the World Cup. Former England striker Chris Sutton, now a pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live, commented, “He looked like a grandpa on the pitch, and that was the main reason Portugal was knocked out. Cristiano Ronaldo did nothing.” Sutton also questioned the role of the coach, saying, “What is Roberto Martínez doing? How can you surrender to one player’s performance? Portugal crashed out because of Roberto Martínez.”
After the match, head coach Roberto Martínez announced his resignation and praised Ronaldo, stating, “We must thank him for the effort he put in during this World Cup. Winning the World Cup was his dream, and he gave the best example of that pursuit. He is an amazing example both in football and as a person off the pitch.”