What happens to Ronaldo’s career after Portugal’s World Cup exit?

 

Following Portugal's crushing 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the World Cup's quarterfinal stage, Cristiano Ronaldo's career is in jeopardy.

After Morocco's stunning and historic upset of Portugal on Saturday night in Qatar, Ronaldo, who is 37 years old and one of the greatest players ever to play the game, has never won the tournament, and he probably won't win it again. 

The cameras quickly panted to the Portuguese captain as Morocco's bench stormed the field in celebration, lighting up Al Thumama Stadium and igniting celebrations across Africa and the Arab world.

By comparison, the contrast was striking.

Ronaldo quickly left the field and gave the crowd one last Stoic glance before putting his hand over his face in complete disappointment.

Notably, he left the field without his teammates and appeared to be weeping as he made his way toward the Portuguese dressing room, past photographers, reporters, and FIFA staff. He was almost entirely by himself. 

Ronaldo has not yet discussed his future.

The Portuguese player's legendary career will come to a bittersweet end in Qatar, if it is indeed the end. 

The most memorable moment of the tournament for Ronaldo was when he became the first male player in tournament history to score a goal in five World Cups. 

With 118 goals in 196 international games, Ronaldo holds the record for the most goals scored in all of international play. In addition, he has won seven league titles, four European Golden Shoes, and a total of five B-A L O N O R S.

He scored Manchester United's 700th goal of his career in October.

However, the 2022 World Cup was undoubtedly an up-and-down roller coaster.

Notably, Ronaldo was benched for the first time since 2008 in Portugal's 6-1 demolition of Switzerland in the first round of the knockout stage. He had reacted angrily to being substituted in the team's final group match against South Korea. Later, there were rumors that he had threatened to leave the Portuguese team during their World Cup run. Those rumors were false, Portugal

On Saturday, Ronaldo again was consigned to the bench by lead trainer Fernando Santos, who gave his substitution, Gonzalo Ramos, the gesture after he scored a full go-around in the match against Switzerland.

Regarding his decision not to start his captain for the second match in a row, Santos stated, "No regrets". 

Cristiano is a great player who joined the team when we felt it was necessary. We are not sorry. 

Ronaldo was not substituted on the field until the 51st minute, and as he rushed onto the field, he gave Pepe, a veteran defender, the captain's armband before urging his remaining teammates to keep going. 

At Al Thumama Stadium, where Morocco supporters outnumbered Portugal supporters by a wide margin, his late-game cameo was met with a resounding chorus of jeers. In a last-ditch effort to rouse the crowd, Ronaldo raised his arms to the Portugal supporters as the final whistle drew closer. 

His teammates, still paralyzed by the loss, remained on the field to interact with the Portugal fans and express their gratitude as Ronaldo left the field in tears. 

Javier Martinez, a former Spain international, acknowledged that he could comprehend the Portuguese superstar's reaction and stated that he did not believe Ronaldo would remain with the national team. 

Martinez stated to Al Jazeera, "This was possibly the last chance he got to win a World Cup." He was such a great player that he deserved to win the World Cup, and he is very disappointed. 

Since finishing fourth at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Portugal has not made it past the quarterfinals. They beat Uruguay, beat Ghana, and then lost 2-1 to South Korea in the group stage. In 1966, S-E L-E C-E D-E S Q U-I N-A S came in third place. The team has never been to the World Cup final

For the first time since the World Cup in 2006, Portugal does not advance past the round of 16. S-E L-E C O has never advanced past the group stage of a World Cup