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February 5, 2026
World Cups tend to define legacies, and for Ronaldo, they've brought as much frustration as glory. Portugal have come close, stumbled unexpectedly, and felt the sting of elimination more than once, moments that reveal how unforgiving football's biggest stage can be, even for the game's icons...
This summer, the FIFA World Cup will likely say goodbye to one of its greatest ever performers, the iconic Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar is already a record breaker on the grandest stage. Back in 2022, he became the only man in history to score in five separate editions of the tournament, and this summer, he - alongside long-time rival Lionel Messi - will become the first man to appear at six different World Cups. But while his storied rival has managed to hoist the famous gold trophy, memorably helping his beloved Argentina climb the summit in Qatar four years ago, CR7 has only known pain on football's grandest stage. So, which of his defeats have been the toughest? Let's take a look.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Best matches for Portugal
This summer, online sports betting sites make Portugal and Ronaldo an 11/1 sixth favourite to leave MetLife Stadium on July 19th with a maiden World Cup crown in tow. The closest the nation has come to that honour over the years came back in 2006, CR7's maiden appearance on the global stage.
In Germany, Portugal managed to reach the semifinals, famously knocking off the Netherlands in the Battle of Nuremberg in the second round, before Ronaldo took centre stage in the quarter-final penalty shootout victory against England. In the semifinals, they met a star-studded France team led by the mercurial Zinedine Zidane. The French skipper was set to retire at the culmination of the tournament. As ever, it was he who broke Portuguese hearts in the semifinals, netting a 33rd-minute penalty to power Les Bleus to the Berlin final.
The most recent World Cup in Qatar was a rollercoaster ride for Ronaldo. On the eve of the tournament, his blockbuster interview with Piers Morgan saw CR7 released from Manchester United amid a myriad of controversy. Once the tournament got underway, he became a history maker, with his 65th-minute penalty in Portugal's tournament opener against Ghana securing his spot as the first - and currently only - man in history to score at five different World Cups.
However, throughout the rest of Portugal's games, Ronny would come under fire for his inability to press the opposition, and by the time the second round came around, he was dropped as manager Fernando Santos opted for striker Gonçalo Ramos instead of his mercurial captain. The young hitman netted a hat trick in his first start, consigning Ronaldo to the bench for the quarter-final clash with Morocco. And that decision would prove fatal.
Despite being huge favourites, Portugal couldn't find a way past the Atlas Lions, and on the stroke of half-time, disaster struck when Youssef En-Nesyri towered high and nodded past Diogo Costa. Ronaldo would appear from the bench in the second half, but he was unable to drag his side level.
In the end, it was Morocco who deservedly progressed, becoming the first African team in history to secure a berth in the semifinals. For Ronaldo and Portugal, it was another opportunity missed.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on February 6, against Al Ittihad, for the Saudi Super League. You can watch Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad, Newcastle vs Brentford, Barcelona vs Mallorca, Manchester United vs Tottenham, Arsenal vs Sunderland and Leeds vs Nottingham Forest, all matches provided from our live soccer game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad kick-off time (06-02-2026):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 01:30
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 23:00
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+3: 20:30
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 18:30
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 17:30
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 14:30
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 13:30
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 10:30
Sources: ronaldo7.net / bbc.co.uk / theguardian.com
