Ronaldo’s World Cup dream ends in tears as Martinez quits amid pandering fury

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s storied World Cup journey ended in heartbreaking fashion on Tuesday, as a 1-0 last-16 defeat to Spain saw the five-time Ballon d’Or winner reduced to tears at the final whistle. Mikel Merino’s injury-time header sealed Portugal’s exit, extinguishing Ronaldo’s last realistic chance to add a World Cup trophy to his glittering collection.

The 41-year-old, who had already confirmed this would be his final World Cup, finishes his career with 976 goals, five Champions League titles, and aEuropean Championship crown—yet the one prize that eludes both him and his long-time rival Lionel Messi until 2022 remains out of reach. Ronaldo scored at a record six different World Cups, but his best finish came in 2006, when Portugal reached the semi-finals.

‘Waddling like a grandad’ – Sutton’s blistering critique

The defeat immediately sparked fierce debate over manager Roberto Martinez’s tactics. Former England striker Chris Sutton, covering the match for BBC Radio 5 Live, did not hold back.

“He’s waddling around the field like a grandad—that’s why Portugal are out,” Sutton said. “Cristiano Ronaldo does nothing; he did nothing. What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you pander to a player so much? Portugal are out because of Roberto Martinez.”

The statistics painted a damning picture: Ronaldo touched the ball just 19 times in 90 minutes against Spain, with only three touches inside the opposition penalty area. Across the tournament, he managed 18 shots—tied with seven-goal top scorer Erling Haaland—but created just one chance for a team-mate in five matches. A staggering 366 other players recorded more touches than Ronaldo, despite him playing all but nine minutes of Portugal’s campaign.

Sutton also criticised Martinez’s decision to leave Goncalo Ramos on the bench—the striker who scored a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup last-16 when Portugal finally had the courage to drop Ronaldo. “It’s an absolute embarrassment from the manager,” Sutton added. “He’s the most decorated player Portugal have ever had, but you’ve got to be stronger than that.”

Martinez resigns, defends ‘icon’ Ronaldo

Martinez, who took over Portugal in 2023 and won last year’s Nations League, announced his departure immediately after the match.

“I came to Portugal with the objective of winning the World Cup, and because I haven’t won it, it wouldn’t make sense to continue,” he said. “My contract ends today.”

Yet the Spaniard offered only praise for his star player, calling Ronaldo a “football icon” and a “prime example of the human being behind the athlete.” He defended his decision to keep Ronaldo on for 90 minutes, arguing: “When you need a goal, you cannot take Cristiano off—his presence, open space, dead-ball situations—we need his experience.”

Sutton, however, dismissed that logic, noting Martinez had also “made a mess of Belgium” with their golden generation, and labelled the Portugal display “pathetic.”

Messi’s shadow and the ‘GOAT’ debate

The exit reopens the eternal debate over football’s greatest. While Messi silenced his critics by lifting the World Cup in 2022, Ronaldo now retires without that defining accolade. Their rivalry, documented in a recent BBC iPlayer series, has divided generations of fans.

At 2026, Messi continues to outshine his rival: he is joint top scorer with seven goals—matching his 2022 tally—while Ronaldo has managed four across the last two tournaments. Messi’s impact at Inter Miami also dwarfs Ronaldo’s spell in Saudi Arabia.

Rooney and fans pay tribute

Former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney offered a more measured farewell: “He is a genius, a superstar. What he has given to football is very rare. He will be disappointed because he believed he could win this tournament. But time gets us all. It’s a sad day for football.”

Portugal supporters who travelled to Dallas were emotional but grateful. “One of my dreams was to watch Ronaldo live,” one fan told the BBC. “What he has done has been beautiful. We don’t have to cry—we have to laugh because we saw him.”

Ronaldo, when asked about his international future, remained non-committal: “I will meet the family and take decisions with a calm head.”

For now, the curtain falls on a World Cup career that defied age and records—but ultimately could not deliver the one trophy that defines greatness in the eyes of so many.