2 years ago
53
| Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live connected BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings - Full sum details |
Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo was coy astir his planetary aboriginal arsenic helium responded to his side's World Cup exit pursuing decision by Morocco.
The 37-year-old guardant was successful tears arsenic helium walked backmost to the dressing country aft the 1-0 quarter-final.
Ronaldo came connected arsenic a substitute, having besides travel disconnected the seat successful the last-16 triumph against Switzerland.
"To triumph a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and astir ambitious imagination of my career," helium wrote connected societal media.
"Unfortunately, yesterday [Saturday] the imagination ended."
Ronaldo left Manchester United by communal agreement earlier the 2022 World Cup aft a arguable interview successful which the five-time Ballon d'Or victor heavy criticised the club.
He started each of his country's 3 radical games astatine the tourney earlier manager Fernando Santos dropped him to the seat for the triumph implicit Switzerland.
Portuguese work Record claimed Ronaldo threatened to permission the tourney aft being told helium would not commencement against Switzerland, but the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and Santos denied that had happened.
"I conscionable privation everyone to cognize that a batch was said, a batch was written, a batch was speculated, but my dedication to Portugal didn't alteration for an instant," Ronaldo added.
"I was ever 1 much subordinate warring for everyone's extremity and I would ne'er crook my backmost connected my team-mates and my country.
"For now, there's not overmuch much to say. Thank you, Portugal. Thank you, Qatar. The imagination was beauteous portion it lasted... Now, we person to fto clip beryllium a bully advisor and let everyone to gully their ain conclusions."
Get the latest results and extremity notifications for immoderate squad astatine the Fifa World Cup by downloading the BBC Sport app: Apple - Android - Amazon
Get your regular dose of Fifa World Cup reaction, statement & investigation with World Cup Daily connected BBC Sounds
English (US)