Pepe in tears, and Ronaldo without a goal for the first time in major competitions: Football used to be cruel

For the first time in his rich and successful career, Cristiano Ronaldo did not score a goal in a major competition in the jersey of the national team (European and World Cup). Last night, Portugal was eliminated by France in the Euro quarterfinals in Germany, after a penalty, and Ronaldo, being 39 years old, played the last match of his career at the championships of the Old Continent.

Ronaldo began his goal-scoring streak at major competitions at the European Championship in his home country in 2004, and then was the top scorer at continental competitions in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2021. He scored at the World Championships in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

The football player of Saudi Al-Nasr wrote history at this championship, because he became the best assister in the history of European championships (he surpassed Karel Poborski with seven assists), but behind him, in general, is a difficult tournament. He did not score a goal in five games (he was the scorer only in penalty shootouts against Slovenia and France), so this is his first major competition in which he did not hit the net.

Ronaldo had the best chance to be among the top scorers in the round of 16 against Slovenia. But he missed the penalty in extra time, and then continued the match in tears, and in the end, he celebrated his place in the quarterfinals. However, even in the quarter-finals against the French, he did not manage to find a way to the rival's goal.

Ronaldo is the only football player who participated in the European championships six times. From Portugal 2004, all the way to Germany this summer, he set numerous records, which will be difficult to break. However, when it comes to this tournament, it will be remembered that Ronaldo, not only did not score a goal, but also had the most shots on goal of all players (23), and did not manage to shake the net. Also, the last field goal in a major competition, Ronaldo scored in the group stage at the Euros three years ago, when he rattled Germany's net. And at the World Cup in Qatar, two years ago, he scored only one and that was from a penalty against Ghana.

But this is not only Ronaldo's last match at the European championships. And the stopper, Pepe, played his last match at the Euro last night in Hamburg, and probably the last of his career in the national team jersey. At 41 years and 130 days, Porto's stopper was the oldest player at this year's championship. In the end, he ended up in tears in Ronaldo's arms.

Pepe and Ronaldo definitely played their last match at the European championships, but the question is whether they ended their careers with the national team.

"Pepe and Ronaldo have not yet made a decision about their future in the national team jersey. There are no individual decisions at this moment. We are still under emotions," Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said after the match with France.

Pepe did not want to talk about his future in the national team jersey.

"There will be time to talk about it," said Pepe.

The Porto stopper was in tears at the end of the match, he ended up hugging Ronaldo.

"It means a lot to me. I have time to talk about my future, first all this pain of elimination has to pass. We had the capacity to go to the semi-finals, but we have to raise our heads and look forward. I want to congratulate my teammates on the games, they are all worked according to agreement, but football is sometimes cruel", said the experienced stopper after the elimination from the Euros.