Martinez Out, Ronaldo's Last Dance Over: The Full Story of Portugal's 2026 World Cup Exit

Portugal's 2026 World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak on July 6, 2026, when a 91st-minute goal from Spain substitute Mikel Merino at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, sealed a 1-0 Round of 16 defeat . The result triggered a chain of significant events: the immediate resignation of head coach Roberto Martinez and the definitive end of Cristiano Ronaldo's historic, six-tournament World Cup career . Here is a fact-based look at what happened, why, and what comes next for Portugal and its legendary captain.

Why Roberto Martinez resigned

Martinez announced his departure during the post-match press conference, stating that his contract expired on the day of the match and that it was "the end of a cycle" for the team . He said the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) needed "a new voice" and that it was legitimate for recently elected FPF president Pedro Proenca to select his own manager . Martinez was blunt about his reasoning: "Without winning the World Cup, it doesn't make sense to carry on" .

Importantly, Martinez's exit was not a snap decision made in the heat of defeat. He had signaled before the tournament that he would not extend his contract, which was always set to expire after the World Cup . Reports from mid-June 2026 indicated he had already informed the FPF of his intention to leave regardless of Portugal's results . His tenure, which began in January 2023, lasted three and a half years and included winning the 2025 UEFA Nations League . His record at the helm was 30 wins, 9 draws, and 6 losses — a win rate of 66.67% .

How the defeat ended Cristiano Ronaldo's record-breaking World Cup career

The match was also the final chapter of Cristiano Ronaldo's legendary World Cup journey. At 41 years old, Ronaldo had confirmed on July 5, the day before the match, that the 2026 tournament would be his last, saying he would leave the global stage "with a clear conscience" .

Ronaldo's career on football's biggest stage was defined by unprecedented longevity and consistency. He finishes as the first men's player in history to score at six different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) . In total, he scored 11 World Cup goals across 27 appearances . A notable, often-cited caveat is that he never scored a goal in the knockout stages of the tournament .

After the final whistle against Spain, Ronaldo was visibly emotional, soaking in his final World Cup exit on the pitch . While he confirmed this was his last World Cup, he did not immediately announce full international retirement, stating he needed time to reflect . He remains under contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr .

Next steps for the Portuguese national team

The Portuguese Football Federation is expected to move quickly to find Martinez's successor. The leading candidate reported in Portuguese media is veteran manager Jorge Jesus . Other names that have been mentioned on a reported shortlist include Abel Ferreira and Sérgio Conceição .

Jose Mourinho had long been linked with the role, but those prospects appear to have faded after he accepted the Real Madrid job in advance of the 2026 tournament . The FPF will likely aim to have a new manager in place to guide the team through the upcoming UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying campaign and the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted in part by Portugal .

Ronaldo's international future: What's next?

While the 2026 World Cup was definitively Ronaldo's last, his future with the Portugal national team in non-World Cup competitions remains undecided as of the immediate aftermath of the Spain match . He had previously stated he would not make "reckless decisions" and would discuss his future with his family after the tournament concluded .

He continues to play at the club level for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he is under contract until June 2027 . The decision on whether he will continue to play for Portugal in friendlies, European Championship qualifiers, or other tournaments will likely be made in the coming weeks.