Ronaldo’s final World Cup pledge echoes after decisive goal

Cristiano Ronaldo's late header secured Portugal's 2‑1 comeback against Croatia in the World Cup round of 32, his tying goal sparking celebrations in Arlington, Texas. The Portuguese forward, now 41, confirmed the tournament will be his final World Cup appearance. Ronaldo took the moment on the eve of a round‑of‑16 clash with border rival Spain to repeat a statement he has made before. Many of the questions for the 41‑year‑old during a 25‑minute session at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys referred to what everybody in the packed room was assuming: this was it for Ronaldo. “What remains with me is the people — the people who love you. I share hotels with the staff, Latino people, and those are spectacular memories. Yesterday on the flight, there was an Argentine flight attendant. And knew she was Argentine by the way she looked at me: ‘I knew you were Argentine by the way you looked at me. If you look away quickly, it means you don’t like Cristiano,” Ronaldo said through an interpreter Sunday, breaking into a smile. The former Manchester City and Real Madrid star reiterated his age, noting he is now 41.

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“I want to enjoy what will be my last World Cup to the fullest,” Ronaldo continued. “Hopefully, tomorrow won’t be my last match. That way, you can keep bashing me some more.” He had made similar comments in a television interview late last year, a few months after Portugal won the UEFA Nations League title with a riveting victory over Spain in a penalty shootout. “There’s nothing missing,” Ronaldo said. “God was so generous toward me. He gave me everything I never expected to win, especially at the national team. And personally, the same thing. So it’s enjoying every moment. I’m not going to be more Cristiano or less Cristiano because I win the World Cup. Of course, we all have hopes, myself especially, and we all want all the conditions to win. But we know that only one is going to win.” He added that he has learned to adjust to the nuances of age, yet still believes he can find the net.

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Portugal are aiming for a second consecutive trip to the quarter‑finals, the only other deep run coming in Ronaldo's debut World Cup in 2006 when they reached the semi‑finals. Ronaldo's World Cup finale will arrive eight years after he became the oldest player to record a World Cup hat‑trick at 33, a feat achieved in a 3‑3 draw with Spain in the group‑stage opener.