Video: Euro 2016 matches World Cup — Ronaldo says after Portugal exit
Cristiano Ronaldo
Abdullateef Fowewe
Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that Portugal’s 2016 European Championship triumph “has same dimension as the World Cup” as he reflected on the end of his World Cup career following Portugal’s 1-0 Round of 16 defeat to Spain in the 2026 tournament.
Speaking after the stoppage-time loss sealed Portugal’s exit and what is likely Ronaldo’s last World Cup after appearances in six editions, the 41-year-old said the 2016 victory “remains forever.”
He described the Euros as his country’s historic breakthrough and framed that title alongside the pinnacle of global football: “I’ve won Euro 2016 and for me it has same dimension as the World Cup.”
Ronaldo, who left the pitch in tears after Mikel Merino’s late strike, also emphasised his legacy in more measured terms.
“That remains forever. Tomorrow is a new day, and we go,” he said, adding that he leaves with a “clear conscience” after delivering multiple major trophies for Portugal.
The match was a subdued farewell on the biggest stage for a player whose club résumé spans Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, a second spell at United and a stint at Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo’s career has been defined by staggering numbers more than 970 official goals, records as the leading scorer in men’s football and in the UEFA Champions League, five Ballon d’Or awards and an unmatched international scoring record — and by milestone moments such as guiding Portugal to Euro 2016 and later a Nations League title.
On the night, however, the focus was on what might be Ronaldo’s final World Cup memory: limited touches and a quiet game in a tournament where he nonetheless made history as the first player to score at six different World Cups.
