“I was always very competitive since I was young, and I hated losing.” Few football fans would need long to identify the speaker. Cristiano Ronaldo has built an extraordinary career on that relentless competitiveness -- a man who rarely accepted defeat and never settled for being second best.

Cristiano Ronaldo spent more than two decades deciding matches, dragging teams through difficult moments and defying time itself to remain among soccer's elite even past his Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus prime.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup ended with a Spanish sting in the tail, courtesy of Mikel Merino's last-gasp winner that earned a 1-0 round-of-16 win on Monday, but he was unwilling to make a hasty call on his international future.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez said he was leaving his role after Spain beat his side 1-0 in the World Cup last 16 on Monday, calling the defeat the end of a cycle for the team.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will be facing another tough test when they take on in-form Spain in a blockbuster Round of 16 clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Dallas Stadium tonight.

Uncover Lamine Yamal's legendary origin story involving Lionel Messi, a bathtub, and a viral photograph. This compelling narrative highlights how the Barcelona prodigy faces Cristiano Ronaldo, bridging football's greatest rivalry with an iconic generational torch-passing moment.

He is no longer the winger who breezed past defenders at will for Manchester United. Nor is he the unstoppable force Real Madrid relied upon to change a game in an instant.

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted this World Cup will be his last and stressed he leaves with no regrets ahead of Portugal's last-16 clash with neighbours Spain in Dallas on Monday.

It was supposed to be a farewell for a legend in Toronto.

It was a blockbuster drama that may have been headlined by the icons, but was ultimately decided by an ensemble of supporting cast.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended the technology that ruled out Croatia's dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against his side, saying the "chip" inside the match ball left no room for debate, while Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic lamented that VAR is stripping football of its emotion.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic and Portugal's Roberto Martinez paid tribute on Friday to Luka Modric, who almost certainly played his last World Cup match.

Cristiano Ronaldo described Portugal's tribute to the late Diogo Jota as "a special moment" after his side secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia to reach the World Cup last 16 on Friday.

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his World Cup knockout scoring drought as Portugal edged Croatia 2-1 after extra-long stoppage time in a dramatic Round of 32 clash in Toronto, booking a last-16 meeting with Spain.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first World Cup knockout goal before Goncalo Ramos struck a dramatic 94th-minute winner as Portugal edged Croatia 2-1 in a chaotic Round of 32 clash in Toronto, with heartbreak for the Croatians deep into an extended spell of stoppage time.

Cristiano Ronaldo broke his long-standing World Cup knockout duck after converting a penalty to bring Portugal level at 1-1 against Croatia in their Round of 32 clash in Toronto today, on an emotional occasion that coincided with the first death anniversary of Portugal and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

Cristiano Ronaldo is set for another World Cup record when Portugal take on Croatia in their Round of 32 clash in Toronto today, with the occasion carrying added emotional weight as it coincides with the first death anniversary of Portugal and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.

It is almost certainly the "last dance" on the global stage for two icons of the modern era, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric.

Discover the cultural evolution of Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic "Siuu" celebration from its 2013 Miami origins to a global internet phenomenon. Learn how this powerful football ritual inspires people to loudly celebrate life's everyday victories.

Witness the legendary World Cup showdown in Toronto as captains Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric clash in the Round of 32. This emotional Portugal versus Croatia knockout match secures an enduring generational soccer legacy.