Cristiano Ronaldo's sixth and final FIFA World Cup came to a heartbreaking conclusion after Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the last 16 following a dramatic stoppage-time goal in Dallas.

For much of the match the teams were evenly matched, but Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal late in added time to send Spain into the quarter-finals and leave Portugal without enough time to respond.Ronaldo was visibly emotional after the final whistle, applauding Portugal's supporters before leaving the pitch in tears.Prior to the match, the 41-year-old had already confirmed that this tournament would be his last World Cup appearance.

Although he acknowledged that his World Cup career had ended, he stopped short of announcing his retirement from international football, saying he would take time to reflect with his family before making any decisions.Ronaldo stated that he had given everything for his country and was leaving the tournament with a clear conscience despite the disappointment.

The defeat means he will finish his career without winning the World Cup, the only major international trophy missing from an otherwise remarkable career that includes Portugal's UEFA European Championship triumph in 2016.Ronaldo also holds the record as the highest-scoring player in men's international football, with 146 goals in 233 appearances for Portugal.

Former teammate Wayne Rooney praised Ronaldo's extraordinary dedication and mentality, suggesting he would not rule out another appearance for Portugal despite his age.

Rooney also noted that Portugal may now begin a new era beyond Ronaldo, while Spain advance to face either Belgium or the United States in the World Cup quarter-finals.