[Sport] Cristiano Ronaldo speaks for first time since shock World Cup exit

[REFLX]

A day after leaving the 2022 World Cup in tears as his chances to win the tournament for the first time in his career were shattered, Portugal superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo said bringing a World Cup title to Portugal was “the biggest and most ambitious dream” of his career but “the dream was beautiful while it lasted.”

Portugal was shocked 1-0 by Morocco in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

“To win a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram on Sunday.

“Fortunately, I won a lot of titles of international dimension, including Portugal, but to put the name of our country in the highest level in the world was my biggest dream.

“I fought for it. I fought a lot for that dream. In the 5 times I was present in World Cups throughout 16 years, always next to great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave it my all. I left everything on the field. I never faced away from the fight and I never gave up on that dream.”

It is likely the 37-year-old’s final appearance at a World Cup. He began Portugal’s round of 16 and quarterfinal games as a substitute after being benched by the team’s coach Fernando Santos.

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