Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-cherished dream of lifting the World Cup has officially ended after Portugal suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Spain in Dallas. The veteran forward left the field in tears, but his former club manager has stepped forward to defend the 41-year-old icon from the wave of criticism surrounding his final appearance on football’s grandest stage.

No room for individual blame

Luis Castro, the former Al-Nassr head coach who managed Ronaldo during his second season in Saudi Arabia, has insisted that the legendary forward should not be singled out for Portugal’s World Cup exit. Following the 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16, Castro emphasised that the team’s collective shortcomings were to blame, rather than the performance of any one player, including the captain.

In an interview with Saudi outlet Arriyadiyah, Castro explained when asked about Ronaldo’s showing: “I don’t assess players individually; the true value of a team lies in the group as a whole. It was Portugal that lost, not one particular player.” His comments arrive as Ronaldo faces intense scrutiny, with some critics suggesting his continued presence might have limited Roberto Martinez’s tactical flexibility.

Defensive details proved decisive

While Castro defended Ronaldo’s contribution, he also acknowledged that an individual defensive lapse had cost Portugal dearly. He pointed to a momentary loss of focus by defender Ruben Dias, which allowed Mikel Merino to score Spain’s stoppage-time winner.

“While Portugal was preparing for extra time, Spain continued to push for a goal in regulation time, committing more players forward,” Castro said. “In one of these moves, one of Portugal’s centre-backs vacated his position, leaving space for a Spanish player, who broke through the defensive line unmarked and scored the decisive goal.”

Statistically stagnant in North America

Although Castro was quick to praise Ronaldo’s professionalism and leadership, the statistics from his final World Cup campaign paint a more challenging picture. The Portuguese legend scored three goals in the tournament, but his physical decline was evident, particularly in open play. Ronaldo became the only forward to play more than 500 minutes across the last two World Cups without successfully dribbling past an opponent.

Despite the disappointment, Ronaldo remained composed and reflective after the defeat. Speaking about his career, he said: “I’m sad to leave the World Cup like this. I gave everything I had. This was my last World Cup, yes, but now I’ll take time to reflect and be with my family... Before Cristiano, Portugal hadn’t won anything. The European Championship was the most important. For me, 2016 holds the same significance as a World Cup, honestly.”

Predicting the tournament winners

Looking ahead, Castro, now managing Brazilian side Gremio, conceded that Portugal currently fall short of the world’s top footballing nations. “There are stronger teams at the moment,” he admitted. “Argentina are at the highest level, with England and France just behind.”

When asked to predict who might lift the 2026 World Cup trophy, Castro refrained from naming a clear favourite but suggested that the title race would likely come down to two traditional powerhouses — France or Argentina.