Ronaldo to retire from international football? Star shares cryptic social media post after World Cup exit

Cristiano Ronaldo said in a cryptic social media post that his dream of winning the World Cup with Portugal has ended, while stopping short of announcing his retirement from international duty.

The 37-year-old Ronaldo left the field in tears after Portugal lost 1-0 to Morocco in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

In his first comments after the elimination, Ronaldo said that it was “time to take stock”, without saying explicitly if he wanted to carry on being available for Portugal.

“There’s no point in reacting rashly,” Ronaldo wrote.

“I just want everybody to know that a lot has been said, a lot has been written, a lot has been speculated about, but my dedication to Portugal has never wavered for an instant.

“I’ve always been just one more [Portuguese] fighting for everyone’s goal. I would never turn my back on my teammates or my country.”

Ronaldo — who is the all-time leading scorer in men’s international with 118 goals — said that putting Portugal “on the highest level in the world” was his biggest dream.

“In my five appearances at World Cups over 16 years, always playing alongside great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I have given my all,” he wrote.

“I left everything I had on the pitch. I’ll never shrink from a battle and I have never given up on that dream.

“Unfortunately, that dream ended yesterday.”

• Ronaldo says dedication to Portugal unchanged but will 'let time be a good adviser'