Ronaldo’s World Cup dream ends, but his legacy lives on

Doha: Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said he wouldn’t make any decisions about his international future in the heat of the moment, but Portugal’s exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026 seems to have made things clear about his career.

A stoppage-time strike from substitute Mikel Merino sent Spain past Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16 at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on Monday, and Ronaldo’s last shot at football’s biggest trophy went up in smoke.

“It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions,” the 41-year-old Ronaldo said reports after the match. milkshakeslot.online

“I don’t make decisions in the heat of the moment,” he said.

“I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this. I gave it my all, I did my best, and I’m leaving with a clear conscience,” Ronaldo said.

Ronaldo made history in Portugal’s second match - against Uzbekistan - at the 2026 World Cup when he became the first player to score at six editions of the global football extravaganza, before making it a brace 33 minutes later. Ronaldo scored another goal off a spot kick against Croatia in Portugal’s Round of 32 clash, which eventually became his last goal at World Cup tournaments.

It was his 27th match in the FIFA World Cup tournaments since his first finals appearance at Germany 2006.

“It’s frustrating to go out like this, but we can hold our heads high,” added the Al Nassr forward.

“That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And it has to move on.”

Ronaldo scored his maiden tournament goal against Iran, and helped Portugal reach their first semi-final in 40 years. He went on to play, and score at least one goal, at South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 where he scored a stunning hat-trick against Spain, and Qatar 2002.

Ronaldo has spent two decades being Portugal’s most celebrated footballer, and surely he has been the biggest influence in his country’s run at the global stage.

Prior to his arrival, Portugal have only made it to the FIFA spectacle three times in 76 years since it’s inception, in 1966, 1986 and 2002.

The European powerhouse has made it to every FIFA World Cup tournament since Ronaldo’s arrival, but the fourth place finish in 2006 remains his best run.

His 11 World Cup goals remain a Portugal record, and he sits joint ninth along with Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis and Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann, but that is nowhere close to the table topper Lionel Messi (21) of Argentina.

Ronaldo, Messi and Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa are the only players to have played across six World Cups, and the Portugal captain also holds the distinction of being the only player to score in all of them.

He also possesses record for most caps (233) and also holds the all-time men’s international scoring record with 146 goals.

Under Ronaldo, Portugal lifted the 2016 European Championship for the first time, and the Al Nassr skipper relished the accomplishment.

“Before Cristiano, Portugal hadn’t won any titles,” Ronaldo said.

“So, I’m happy. The truth is that the biggest title I won with the national team was in 2016, which for me has the same significance as the World Cup, honestly.

“Therefore, I repeat, I leave with a clear conscience, having done my best, and that’s it. Tomorrow will be a new day, and life goes on.”

“We have to pick ourselves up and carry on,” Ronaldo said after the tournament exit on Monday.

However, only time will tell how long he is willing to do so.

أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم (فيفا) تعليق تنفيذ عقوبة الإيقاف المفروضة على مهاجم المنتخب الأمريكي فولارين بالوغون، ليصبح مؤهلًا للمشاركة في مواجهة منتخب بلجيكا ضمن دور الـ16 من كأس العالم 2026، في قرار استثنائي أثار جدلًا واسعًا داخل الأوساط الكروية.
وجاء القرار بعد تقارير أكدت أن الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب أجرى اتصالًا هاتفيًا مع رئيس الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم جياني إنفانتينو، طالب خلاله بإعادة النظر في البطاقة الحمراء التي حصل عليها بالوغون خلال مواجهة الولايات المتحدة والبوسنة والهرسك، معتبرًا أن قرار الطرد كان قاسيًا.
وأكد فيفا في بيانه أن القرار لا يعني إلغاء البطاقة الحمراء، وإنما تعليق تنفيذ عقوبة الإيقاف لمدة عام على سبيل الاختبار، استنادًا إلى المادة (27) من لائحة الانضباط، وجاء في نص القرار:
“استنادًا إلى المادة (27) من لائحة الانضباط في فيفا، يُعلَّق تنفيذ عقوبة الإيقاف لمباراة واحدة لمدة سنة على سبيل الاختبار. وبناءً عليه، يحق لفولارين بالوغون المشاركة في مباراة دور الـ16 من كأس العالم 2026 أمام بلجيكا. وإذا ارتكب اللاعب مخالفة انضباطية مماثلة خلال فترة الاختبار، فيجوز تنفيذ عقوبة الإيقاف المعلقة بالإضافة إلى أي عقوبة جديدة تُفرض عليه.”
وتعد المادة (27) من لائحة الانضباط موجودة منذ سنوات، إلا أن تفعيلها يُعد نادرًا للغاية، وقد سبق للجنة الانضباط في فيفا أن استخدمتها مع النجم البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو في نوفمبر 2025، عندما تعرض للطرد خلال مباراة البرتغال أمام جمهورية أيرلندا في التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العالم. ورغم معاقبته بالإيقاف ثلاث مباريات، جرى تعليق تنفيذ مباراتين لمدة عام على سبيل الاختبار، ليغيب عن مباراة واحدة فقط أمام أرمينيا ويصبح مؤهلًا للمشاركة في كأس العالم 2026.
وعقب صدور القرار، وجّه الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب رسالة شكر إلى ا|فيفا» عبر منصته، قال فيها: “شكرًا (فيفا) على فعل ما كان صائبًا، وتصحيح ظلمٍ كبير.”
في المقابل، كان الاتحاد البلجيكي أكبر المتضررين من القرار، حيث أصدر الاتحاد البلجيكي بيانًا أعرب فيه عن “دهشته” من تعليق العقوبة، معتبرًا أن القرار يتعارض مع اللوائح المنظمة لكأس العالم . كما وصف مدرب المنتخب البلجيكي رودي غارسيا القرار بأنه أشبه بـ”كذبة أول أبريل”، مشددًا على أن الاتحاد البلجيكي لا يدافع عن منتخب بلاده فحسب، بل عن نزاهة اللعبة وعدالة تطبيق اللوائح.
وأعاد القرار الاستثنائي فتح باب النقاش حول حدود صلاحيات لجنة الانضباط في فيفا وآلية تطبيق المادة (27)، خاصة مع تأثيره المباشر على واحدة من أبرز مباريات دور الـ16،

European Parliament is seeking an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino after a suspension was controversially lifted.

A group of European Parliament lawmakers are seeking an investigation into FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the decision to allow United States striker Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium despite receiving a red card in the previous round.

The lawmakers are urging the football associations of the 27 European Union member states to ask FIFA’s Ethics Committee to examine whether political pressure influenced the decision to suspend Balogun’s one-match ban.

Balogun was sent off during the United States’ round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1.

FIFA later suspended the implementation of his automatic ban, allowing Balogun to play in the last-16 match against Belgium.

The decision came after U.S. President Donald Trump contacted Infantino over the incident. Trump later thanked FIFA for what he called the “reversal of an injustice.”

MEPs Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters, and Niels Fuglsang initiated the letter, which is circulating among European Parliament members. The lawmakers said FIFA should examine the decision-making process and whether any senior officials breached rules on political neutrality.

FIFA has said the decision was made by its disciplinary committee. Infantino has said he told Trump during their call that FIFA’s disciplinary body was independent.

UEFA criticised the decision, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” The Belgian Football Federation also challenged Balogun’s eligibility.

This adds to the growing criticism, following Egypt’s defeat to Argentina, over FIFA’s handling of the competition.

The post European Parliament Lawmakers Seek FIFA Probe Into Infantino appeared first on KingFut.

تحت إشراف إدارة المراكز والهيئات الشبابية بوزارة الرياضة والشباب احتفلت اللجنة الشبابية بنادي الخور الرياضي بيوم الشباب العربي 2026، بالتعاون مع مركز شباب الذخيرة والكعبان وسميسمة والظعاين بمشاركة مجموعة من الشباب العربي يأتي الاحتفال تزامناً مع احتفالات الدولة باليوم الذي يصادف 5 يوليو سنوياً. جاء الاحتفال تنفيذاً لإستراتيجية وزارة الرياضة والشباب، تضمن الاحتفال الذي أقيم في مقر مركز شباب الذخيرة جلسة نقاشية بعنوان تقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي في خدمة العمل التطوعي وتعزيز المسؤولية المجتمعية لدى الشباب، قدمها المدرب عبدالله إبراهيم المهندي.ركزت الجلسة على أهمية رعاية الشباب في المجتمعات العربية لأنهم سر النهضة ومصدر قوتها وحيويتها في تحقيق التنمية والاستقرار والتقدم في المجتمعات
ومن جانبه اكد حمد المهندي رئيس الجنة الشبابية بالنادي أن الورشة تأتي في إطار حرص النادي والمراكز الشبابية على مواكبة التحول الرقمي وتعزيز ثقافة الاستثمار في اقتصاد المعرفة والذكاء الاصطناعي لدى فئة الشباب، بما ينسجم مع توجهات دولة قطر نحو بناء جيل واعٍ تقنياً وفاعل مجتمعياً.

Arlington, United States: Cristiano Ronaldo laboured through his last World Cup match Monday as the dream of winning the biggest prize of all ended in a 1-0 defeat to Spain and left him fighting back tears.

The 41-year-old Portugal captain and one of the best players of all time says he will now go away and think about what comes next.

He has won it all in a trophy-laden career at some of Europe's biggest clubs, and tasted European glory with his country.

But among his bulging trophy cabinet there will be no World Cup winners medal, and he was largely ineffectual as he huffed and puffed through a disappointing last-16 clash in Texas.

"That's football, that's the life of a footballer," he said, struggling to raise his voice above the crushing disappointment.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on."

Ronaldo, the leading scorer in the history of men's international football, said he would leave the World Cup stage "with a clear conscience".

"The truth is, the biggest title I won with the national team was in 2016 (Euros), which for me is just as significant as a World Cup, honestly," he said.

Ronaldo's best World Cup will always remain the semi-finals 20 years ago.

His display in a disappointing game summed up what the veteran talisman has become in recent years -- a shadow of the player that one struck fear into opponents.

He had three attempts at goal and was a peripheral figure playing through the centre of an ineffectual Portugal attack.

He scored three times at the tournament in North America in his World Cup farewell -- twice in a 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan and a penalty against Croatia in the last 32.

Ronaldo did not register a single assist at the tournament and at one point against Spain threw his hands up in the air as a team-mate's pass went astray.

He left the pitch at the home of the Dallas Cowboys on his own.

Billionaire footballer

Ronaldo went from growing up in a poor family on the island of Madeira, with an alcoholic father, to become a global superstar.

His eternal thirst for records coupled with a relentless drive for self-improvement and tireless devotion to his art sustained him into his 40s.

Off the field he is a phenomenon too -- the first billionaire footballer, boasting 671 million followers on Instagram and his "Siuuu!" celebration mimicked by star-struck children the world over.

But there was to be no Hollywood-style World Cup happy ending for the attacker, who played first for Sporting Lisbon, before becoming a global icon at Manchester United.

After six years and Champions League glory there he lit up the Bernabeu with Real Madrid, where he conquered Europe four more times.

Then came Juventus, a stint back at United, and now the figurehead of Saudi Arabia's bid for footballing respectability at Al Nassr.

His many accolades and prizes also include five Ballon d'Ors.

In recent years the narrative around Ronaldo has shifted.

With his powers on the wane and lacking the mesmerising turn of foot and pace that were once his hallmark, he moved from the wings to a more traditional number nine role.

Ronaldo and Portugal coach Roberto Martinez have been accused of dragging his international career out beyond its sell-by date.

Martinez made two double changes late on as they chased the game against Spain, but Ronaldo remained on the pitch regardless.

Speaking on the eve of the match, Ronaldo insisted: "I am not going to be more Cristiano Ronaldo or less because I win the World Cup."