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The Brazilian legend explains the reason for Portugal’s Don’s decline at the World Cup
Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario believes declining fitness was the most prominent factor behind Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo’s struggles at the 2026 World Cup, stressing that it is the body that ultimately decides when to stop, no matter how much a player wants to keep going.
Portugal crashed out of the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 16 after losing 1-0 to Spain, ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s journey in what he had previously announced would be the last of his World Cup career.
Despite his early involvement with his country’s national team, the Portugal captain was limited to 3 goals in 5 games, a pattern he has become accustomed to throughout his career.
“The body sends its signals”
In announcements to the network ESPN BrazilRonaldo said what happened to Cristiano was not surprising but something all players face as they age.
“Eventually, the body begins to send clear signals that it is no longer able to provide more. I think Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have reached a stage where there is a kind of understanding between the player and his body.”
He added: “Cristiano can still play in the Saudi Arabian League, but participating in the World Cup is a completely different matter, because the level of competition there is much higher.”
“As much as we love football, the decision is not in our hands.”
Ronaldo, who had a similar experience before his career ended, spoke about how footballers find it difficult to accept the idea of ending their careers.
He said: “No matter how passionate we are about football and how much we love to play forever, in the end it’s the body that makes the decision.”
He pointed out that he had a similar experience in the last years of his career, when he had to deal with a physical decline before announcing his retirement.
The end of the World Cup journey
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most participated football players in the history of the world championships, who has set a record for the number of participations next to Argentine Lionel Messi.
Despite a trophy-laden career that saw him win five Ballon d’Ors, the 2016 European Cup of Nations and the Europa League, the World Cup remained the only trophy that eluded him.
Before the start of the tournament, Ronaldo confirmed that the 2026 tournament will be his last in the World Cup.
Although the curtain has come down on his World Cup career, Cristiano’s international future is still undecided.
According to Portuguese press reports, the new coach of the Portuguese national team, Jorge Jesus, wants the captain of “Brazil Europe” to continue with the team at the next stage, especially in the European League of Nations.
Jesus emphasized that the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo “will never be a problem” for him and the Portuguese national team, in the event that the Saudi Al-Nasr striker has not yet announced his retirement from international football.
