Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest to win the FIFA World Cup has ended in disappointment after Portugal suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16. As criticism grows over the veteran forward’s final World Cup appearance, former Al-Nassr manager Luis Castro has come to his defence, insisting Portugal’s elimination should not be pinned on one player.
The heartbreaking defeat in Dallas brought the curtain down on what Ronaldo confirmed was his final World Cup campaign. The 41-year-old left the pitch visibly emotional, but Castro believes the team’s exit was the result of a collective failure rather than the performance of its captain.
Speaking to Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah, Castro dismissed suggestions that Ronaldo was responsible for Portugal’s downfall.
“I don’t evaluate the players individually. The value of a team lies in the group as a whole. It was Portugal that lost, not a specific player,” Castro said.
While refusing to single out Ronaldo for criticism, Castro pointed to a defensive lapse that ultimately handed Spain the victory. He explained that Portugal appeared to be preparing for extra time while Spain continued to push for a winner, creating the opportunity that led to Mikel Merino’s decisive stoppage-time goal.
According to Castro, one of Portugal’s central defenders abandoned his position during the final attack, leaving space for Merino to break through the defence and score the winning goal.
Despite Castro’s support, Ronaldo’s statistics from the tournament have fuelled debate about whether age has finally caught up with one of football’s greatest players. Although he scored three goals during the competition, the Portuguese icon became the only striker to play more than 500 minutes across the last two FIFA World Cups without completing a successful dribble past an opponent.
Reflecting on the painful exit, Ronaldo admitted the defeat was difficult to accept but said he had no regrets.
“I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this. I gave it my all. I did my best. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. Before Cristiano, Portugal had not won anything. The Euros was the most important. For me, 2016 has the same dimension as a World Cup, honestly.”
Looking ahead, Castro acknowledged that Portugal currently trail the world’s strongest national teams. He described Argentina as the tournament’s standout side, with England and France close behind, before predicting that either Argentina or France will eventually lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy.
