The late strike sealed a 1-0 victory for Spain in the Round of 16 and ended Ronaldo's dream of lifting the one major trophy that eluded him throughout his illustrious career.
The Portuguese captain, who had announced before the match that the 2026 tournament would be his last World Cup, was visibly emotional after the final whistle, standing motionless on the pitch before struggling to hold back tears as teammates and opponents reflected on the end of an era.
"This will be my last World Cup, but let's hope tomorrow isn't my last game," Ronaldo had told reporters before the encounter.
Sadly for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, it was.
Ronaldo bows out having represented Portugal at a record six World Cups, becoming the first player to score in six different editions of the tournament. During the 2026 campaign, he scored three goals, including a brace against Uzbekistan and a penalty in the victory over Croatia, while also becoming the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history and the oldest player to feature in the knockout stages.
Despite those milestones, the World Cup title remained beyond his reach.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward enjoyed remarkable success with Portugal elsewhere, captaining his country to the UEFA European Championship title in 2016 before adding the UEFA Nations League trophy in 2025.
However, football's most coveted prize ultimately slipped away after six attempts.
Ahead of the knockout tie, Ronaldo reflected on his career and insisted he had no regrets.
"I have given all I could to football. It's my passion. I didn't do it out of need. I play for the national team because I love to play football," he said.
"Regardless of what happens tomorrow, I'm going to leave with a clear conscience."
Portugal's performances during the tournament had attracted mixed reviews. Ronaldo failed to score in the opening draw against DR Congo but responded with two goals against Uzbekistan before being kept quiet in a goalless draw with Colombia as questions persisted over the team's attacking fluency.
Spain's victory also denied Ronaldo the chance to emulate his long-time rival Lionel Messi, who lifted the World Cup with Argentina in 2022.
Although his World Cup journey has come to an end, Ronaldo leaves the global stage as Portugal's all-time leading appearance maker and goalscorer, with 232 international caps and 146 goals, records that underline one of the greatest international careers in football history.