Portugal's FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign came to a heartbreaking end on Monday, July 6, following a painful 0-1 defeat to European champions Spain in the Round of 16. Held at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the high-stakes match was decided in the final moments when Arsenal’s Mikel Merino netted a dramatic 91st-minute winner, eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates from the tournament.
Mohammed Siraj's emotional post for Cristiano Ronaldo
Following the devastating loss, Ronaldo confirmed to reporters that this tournament would officially be his final World Cup, though he stopped short of announcing his complete retirement from international football. This exit marks the end of an era for the legendary forward, who holds the record for playing in six different World Cups. Despite his historic career, the ultimate football prize eluded him, with his deepest run in the tournament remaining a semifinal finish back in 2006.
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A single game can never define your greatness: Siraj's heartfelt words for Ronaldo
In the wake of Portugal's exit, Indian cricketer Mohammed Siraj took to social media to pay tribute to the football icon. He praised Ronaldo's extraordinary career and expressed deep gratitude for the immense inspiration the Portuguese star has provided to athletes and fans across the globe.
"No matter what happened today, you will always be my inspiration, Cristiano. A single game can never define your greatness. Thank you for inspiring millions around the world," Siraj's Instagram post read.
It is well known that Siraj is a massive admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo. India's ace pacer has openly channeled his fandom on the cricket field, famously mimicking the five-time Ballon d'Or winner’s iconic 'SIUUU' celebration on multiple occasions throughout his career. His dedication to the football star runs deep; following his match-winning performance in the Oval Test against England last year, Siraj revealed that his phone background featured an image of Ronaldo paired with the motivational word believe.
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Currently, the speedster is enjoying a well-deserved sabbatical to recover from a demanding cricket calendar. Siraj's last international appearance came during the one-off Test match against Afghanistan last month, after which he was rested for the subsequent ODI leg of that series.
As part of a strict workload management strategy, team management has opted to keep him out of the upcoming white-ball fixtures. Although initially selected for the T20I squads to face Ireland and England, he was later pulled from those lineups. He will also sit out the ODI series against England and the T20Is against Zimbabwe, with his highly anticipated return to action expected during India's two-match series against Sri Lanka this August.