22 years ago, Portugal and Spain faced each other in the group stage of the 2004 European Championship. The Portuguese won with a goal from Nuno Gomes, still remembered by that generation, but the interesting fact is that from those two squads, only one man remains standing in football: Cristiano Ronaldo, in the starting eleven that day. This Monday, at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the Portuguese bid farewell to his World Cup journey, eliminated from his sixth World Cup by the team that has been his international nemesis throughout his career.
"I am sad to leave the World Cup like this, but as I said yesterday, I have given everything, and I leave with a clear conscience. We must move on, the truth is that it hurts, yes, but I have time to think and decide with my family so as not to make decisions in the heat of the moment. It's the life of a footballer, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose," he stated in the mixed zone of the stadium.
Why it's so hard to say goodbye to Cristiano
If in Euro 2004 Portugal defeated Spain and knocked them out of the continental tournament, from then on Cristiano found himself cornered by the Spanish generation's drive until yesterday when Luis de la Fuente's team put an end to his World Cup journey. "I have won three titles for Portugal, before Cristiano, none had been won. For me, the 2016 title has the dimension of a World Cup. Tomorrow will be a new day, and life goes on," he confirmed.
The forward, captain, number 7, 41 years old, and a key player for Roberto Martínez, had arrived at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas aware that it could be his last match in the World Cup, smiling, wearing sunglasses, and making a gesture that has already gone viral on the internet.
He covered his face with his hands and then opened them with a surprised expression. An action that rapper Drake made popular to mock another rapper, ASAP Rocky, because supposedly his wife, Rihanna, did not support him. It may be a coincidence or not, but before the match against Spain, Cristiano already hinted at the lack of support he had from some sectors of the media. "You are eager for me to leave, calm down. The day will come. I will leave when I want, not when others want," he warned, insisting that "whatever happens, Cristiano will leave here with a clear conscience at 1,000%."
Before these round of 16 matches, the Spanish national team had been a nemesis for Cristiano throughout most of his career. They won in the group stage in 2004 and drew in 2018, but in the knockout stages, in the most crucial moments, both he and his team succumbed to Spain. In the 2010 World Cup, Del Bosque's team won in the round of 16 with a goal from Villa, and in the 2012 European Championship, in the semifinals and on penalties, they left Cristiano without taking the fifth penalty because Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves had already missed. Spain was Ronaldo's nemesis.
In other words, in the two occasions when Spain faced Cristiano's Portugal in the knockout stages of a major tournament, they ended up winning the title. The only exception was the last Nations League, a minor trophy in which Portugal had won due to an error by Morata from the penalty spot. That had been Ronaldo's only success against his Iberian neighbor in crucial moments.
10 touches in 90 minutes
In Dallas, as in almost all matches of this World Cup, Cristiano struggled to get involved. He barely touched the ball, less than 10 times in the first half, had only one shot on target, and was isolated in Portugal's attack in a very balanced match.
Roberto Martínez opted for Joao Félix instead of Rafael Leao, who had played a great game against Croatia, assisting Gonçalo Ramos in the decisive goal. The Spanish coach, as always, sang the Portuguese anthem after admitting before the match that "my home is where my family is." On the field, he fielded an attack with Joao, Cristiano, and Neto, two forwards from the Saudi Arabian league and one from Chelsea. An attack that, in theory, did not offer the same guarantees as the midfield formed by Neves, Vitinha, and Bruno Fernandes, top world-class players.
Approaching the final stages, Martínez turned to his bench, although he never considered substituting Cristiano even though against Croatia, his replacement, Ramos, scored the winning goal. The Spanish coach brought on Conceiçao, Leao, Bernardo Silva, Dalot, and Semedo, making five changes before the 90th minute. Ronaldo had a shot on goal, but was far from having any real chance even after Merino's goal, even in extra time.
The forward almost reached a cross in the final seconds, but the final whistle caught him with his hands on his hips, impassive, staring into space. He greeted his opponents, hugged Lamine Yamal, and shook his head every time the camera focused on him, at one point asking it to move back a bit.
In Qatar, four years ago, he had walked towards the dressing rooms in tears after losing in the quarterfinals. It seemed like his end, but he endured another World Cup cycle to be in the United States. There, in Dallas, he broke down in tears when he had to greet the fans. There was no solitary and silent walk towards the dressing rooms. He stayed to receive the applause from his people after another defeat against his great nemesis.