Ronaldo Rates Euro 2016 Triumph as Equal to World Cup Glory After Portugal Exit
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has described his country’s UEFA Euro 2016 success as being just as meaningful to him as winning the FIFA World Cup, following Portugal’s elimination from the 2026 tournament.
The Portuguese were knocked out in the Round of 16 after a dramatic 1-0 defeat to Spain in Arlington, Texas, with Mikel Merino scoring a stoppage-time winner to end their World Cup campaign.
Speaking after the match, the 41-year-old reflected on his international achievements, insisting that lifting the European Championship remains one of the greatest moments of his career.
“I’ve won Euro 2016 and, for me, it has the same value as winning the World Cup. That achievement will always remain with me,” Ronaldo said.
The veteran forward, who had already indicated before the tournament that this would be his final World Cup appearance, confirmed that he has now played his last match on football’s biggest stage.
Despite the disappointment of Portugal’s exit, Ronaldo said he leaves the competition without regrets, pointing to the three major trophies he helped his country win during his international career.
“I gave everything I had. Before my generation, Portugal had not won these titles. I’m proud of what we achieved,” he said.
Ronaldo admitted the defeat was painful but praised Spain’s performance, describing the 2024 European champions as one of the strongest teams remaining in the competition and among the favourites to reach the final.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner ends his World Cup journey with 27 appearances and 11 goals across six editions of the tournament.
At the 2026 finals, he scored twice against Uzbekistan and added another goal from the penalty spot against Croatia.
Although the World Cup title remained beyond his reach, Ronaldo’s international honours include Portugal’s historic UEFA Euro 2016 triumph and two UEFA Nations League titles.
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