Former Portugal and Manchester United star Luis Nani has called on fans to show "respect, support and trust" for the national team following their Round of 16 exit at the FIFA World Cup. Portugal fell 1-0 to Spain on Monday after a late winner from Mikel Merino, ending their campaign and marking the final World Cup appearance for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Nani's message of support
In a post on X, Nani shared a photo of himself celebrating with Cristiano Ronaldo and other teammates from their Euro 2016 triumph. He wrote: "The legacy in the national team and football speaks for itself. There are stories and moments that no result erases. Cris, I had the privilege of living many of those moments with you, and I know all too well what you gave for this sweater. And I also know what this jersey means to all those who represent Portugal today. This team deserves respect, support and trust. Strength to you and this whole team."
Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo, playing in his sixth and final World Cup, left the pitch in tears after the defeat. Despite his legendary career, the World Cup trophy eluded him once again. Since his debut in 2006, Portugal finished fourth in 2006, exited in the Round of 16 in 2010 and 2018, failed to advance from the group stage in 2014, and reached the quarterfinals in 2022. This tournament co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico saw Ronaldo set several records.
Against Croatia in the Round of 32, a 2-1 win, Ronaldo became the first player aged 41 or older to appear in a World Cup knockout match. He also became the oldest goalscorer in World Cup knockout history at 41 years and 147 days, scoring his first-ever World Cup knockout goal. His brace in a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan made him Portugal's all-time leading World Cup scorer with 10 goals, surpassing Eusebio's record of nine. He also became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments.
Portugal's tournament performance
Portugal began with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, followed by a 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan and a 0-0 draw with Colombia in the group stage. In the Round of 16, they were eliminated by Spain. Ronaldo finished the tournament with three goals in five matches, but his final match saw him record 17 shots without creating a single chance for teammates, the most by any player in a World Cup match.
Records and milestones
Ronaldo's World Cup career ends with 27 appearances (second most all-time) and 11 goals. His longevity was highlighted by his appearance against Croatia, which also featured former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric, marking the first World Cup match with two outfield players aged 40 or above. Despite the disappointment, Nani's message underscores the team's effort and legacy.
