Cristiano Ronaldo bids adieu to World Cup with ‘clear conscience’

Cristiano Ronaldo was tearful after the last game of his sixth and final World Cup, Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 on Monday decided by Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner.

Cristiano Ronaldo was tearful after the last game of his sixth and final World Cup, Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 on Monday decided by Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner.

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But the five-time Ballon d’Or winner insisted -- just as he did Sunday before the match -- that in the big picture, he remains secure in his legacy with his national team.

“Well, it’s normal, sad, to leave the World Cup like this,” Ronaldo said through an interpreter. “But, as I said yesterday at the press conference, I gave it my all, I gave my best. And I leave with a clear conscience.