The list of football greats who never won the biggest cup - the Golden Goddess, is very long. It features Johan Cruyff, Eusebio, Ferenc Puskas, Alfredo di Stefano, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, Paolo Maldini, Zico, Socrates, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge... and since Saturday, unfortunately, Cristiano Ronaldo has written his name on it for all time.
The man who year after year pushed the limits and broke records that will hardly ever be reached, whose rivalry with Lionel Messi marked the era of the most important side event in the world, emotionally "burst" after the defeat in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.
While the Moroccans were celebrating a sensational victory over Portugal, and his compatriots were consoling each other, CR7 burst into tears and ran down the corridor of the "Al Tumama" stadium to the dressing room.
His dream was shattered, because the last hope of winning the only trophy he was missing in his career was gone.
"Winning the World Cup with Portugal was my biggest and most ambitious plan in my career. I was lucky enough to win many titles at international level, including the trophy with Portugal, but my biggest dream was to lead my country to the top of the world. I fought hard for that dream. I participated in the World Cup five times, always side by side with great teammates and with the support of millions of fans. I gave it my all. I never ran away from the fight and gave up on that dream. I want everyone to know that my commitment to the Portuguese national team has not changed for a single moment, despite everything that has been said, written, speculated...", Ronaldo wrote on social networks.
The winner of Euro 2016 did not say that it was over, but it was clear that this was his last appearance at the World Cup. If he plays in 2026, then he will be 41 years old and the big question is whether he will be called up.
"I don't have much to say right now. Thank you Portugal. Thanks to Katar too - it was nice while it lasted. Now we can hope that time will give us good advice and allow everyone to draw their own conclusions," Ronaldo said.
The great from Funchal has come to the end of the road, which has recently become full of obstacles and unexpected disappointments for one of the best football players of all time.
It all started this summer, when Ronaldo wanted to leave Manchester United to play in the Champions League.
No one, however, wanted to take a chance on a fading star, with his mentality of pushing his teammates when he was on top and suffocating them when he started to sink.
His ego, which led him to the status of a legendary footballer, created a problem in the "red devils" dressing room, so after public calls on the account of the club and manager Erik ten Haag, the split was inevitable.
Just before the World Cup in Qatar, it was announced that he parted ways with United by mutual consent, and a few days later that he would transfer to Saudi Al-Nasr for a contract worth half a billion euros in two and a half years!
All these stories led to problems, the Portuguese public demanded that their long-time idol no longer be a starter, and coach Fernando Santos dropped him from the starting line-up due to his displeasure at being substituted in the match against South Korea.
In the last two games, probably his farewell in the Portugal shirt, he came on in the 2nd half, but failed to turn things around. Portugal goes home, and Ronaldo joins Cruyff, Eusebio, Puskas, Di Stefano, Platini, Maldini...
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