Cristiano Ronaldo Concludes World Cup Journey, Portugal Faces Post-Ronaldo Era

Marca. Cristiano Ronaldo has ended his sixth and final FIFA World Cup with a heavy heart. After Portugal was defeated by Spain and eliminated from the World Cup, he confirmed that he will not play in another World Cup.

However, he has not announced a complete retirement from international football. Therefore, the possibility of playing some matches in the future under the leadership of new head coach Jorge Jesus remains open.

But with the end of Ronaldo's World Cup journey, Portuguese football faces a difficult question. That is, how will the country now replace Ronaldo, who has become a bigger brand than the club or national team?

Not just a player, a global brand

Ronaldo is the top scorer in men's international football history. He also became the world's first player to score in six World Cups. For more than two decades, he represented Portugal and connected millions of fans worldwide to Portugal.

However, experts have warned that his departure will have a significant impact not only on on-field performance but also on sponsorships, commercial income, and global popularity. Marketing expert Daniel Sa told Portuguese news agency Lusa,