Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Cristiano Ronaldo could not hold back the emotion as Portugal’s FIFA World Cup campaign came to a heartbreaking end on Monday, with the 41-year-old briefly fighting back tears after Spain sealed a dramatic 1-0 victory in the Round of 16.
The defeat is expected to mark Ronaldo’s final appearance at the World Cup, ending a two-decade pursuit of the one trophy that always eluded him. After the final whistle, the Portugal captain stood motionless for a few moments as the result sank in. He then shared a quick hug with Spain teenager Lamine Yamal before congratulating several opposition players.
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It was during the post-match handshakes that the emotion finally caught up with him. Ronaldo briefly broke down before regaining his composure and walking down the tunnel, bringing the curtain down on what is likely his last World Cup appearance.
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DREAM ENDS
Before the match, Ronaldo had already confirmed that the tournament would be his last World Cup and insisted he would leave with no regrets regardless of the outcome.
“I have given all I could to football. It’s my passion to play for so many years. I didn’t do it out of need… Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I’m not going to exert pressure on myself that I must win,” he had said on Sunday.
Despite those words, the pain of the defeat was evident as Portugal’s dream came to an end. Ronaldo, who scored three goals during the tournament, will retire from the World Cup without ever reaching the final, with Portugal’s semifinal run in 2006 remaining his best finish.
MERINO STRIKES
Spain booked their place in the quarterfinals thanks to substitute Mikel Merino, who struck in the opening minute of second-half stoppage time just six minutes after coming off the bench.
La Roja were the better side for most of the contest and nearly went ahead in the first half through Mikel Oyarzabal, while Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena forced Diogo Costa into a fine double save. Portugal’s best opportunities came before the break, with Ronaldo testing Unai Simon and Nuno Mendes rattling the crossbar.
The breakthrough finally arrived when Ferran Torres and Fabian Ruiz combined to release Merino inside the penalty area, and the midfielder calmly slotted past Costa to send Spain into the quarterfinals for the first time since their 2010 title-winning campaign.
For Spain, the victory keeps alive hopes of a second World Cup crown. For Ronaldo, it marked the emotional end of a journey that defined generations, with football’s biggest prize destined to remain the only major honour missing from his glittering career.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
