Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário believes that the decline in physical condition was the main factor behind Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo's struggles during the 2026 World Cup, emphasizing that in the end, the body decides when to stop, regardless of the player's desire to continue.

The Portuguese national team exited the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16 after a 1-0 loss to Spain, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's journey in the tournament, which he had previously stated would be his last in the World Cup.

Despite starting for his country's national team, the Portugal captain managed only 3 goals in 5 matches in a tournament where he did not deliver the performance he had been known for throughout his career.

"The body sends its signals"

In statements to Brazilian ESPN, Ronaldo said that what happened to Cristiano was not surprising, but rather something all players face as they age.

He explained: "In the end, the body begins to send clear signals that it can no longer give more. I think Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have reached that stage where a kind of understanding occurs between the player and his body."

He added: "Maybe Cristiano can still play in the Saudi league, but participating in the World Cup is completely different, because the level of competition there is much higher."

"No matter how much we love football, the decision is not in our hands"

Ronaldo, who experienced a similar situation before his retirement, spoke about the difficulty players face in accepting the end of their journey.

He said: "No matter how passionate we are about football, and no matter how much we would love to play forever, it is the body that ultimately makes the decision."

He noted that he went through the same experience in the last years of his career, when he had to deal with physical decline before announcing his retirement.

End of the World Cup journey

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most capped players in World Cup history, having achieved the record for appearances alongside Argentina's Lionel Messi.

Despite his trophy-laden career, which includes five Ballon d'Ors, the 2016 European Championship, and the UEFA Nations League, the World Cup remained the only title that eluded him.

Before the tournament, Ronaldo confirmed that the 2026 edition would be his last in the World Cup.

Although the curtain has fallen on his World Cup career, Cristiano's international future has not yet been definitively decided.

According to Portuguese press reports, the new coach of the Portuguese national team, Jorge Jesus, wants the captain of the "Brazil of Europe" to continue with the team in the upcoming period, starting with the UEFA Nations League.

Jesus confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo's presence "would never be a problem" for him or for the Portuguese national team, at a time when the Al-Nassr forward has not yet announced his retirement from international football.