Qatar 2022 World Cup: Cristiano Ronaldo cried inconsolably when he went to the locker room after Portugal’s elimination against Morocco

Cristiano Ronaldo lost his limelight during the World Cup in Qatar but he is undoubtedly the captain and emblem of the Portuguese team that was eliminated this Saturday by the surprising Morocco. Their inconsolable crying on the way to the changing rooms It’s a reflection of the frustration of a team that seemed to have everything to progress to the semi-finals.

As soon as the Argentine referee Facundo Tello whistled the end of the match in an Al Thumama stadium packed with Moroccans who unleashed unbridled cheers, Cristiano lowered his head and, almost without looking to the side, began the long walk towards the locker rooms.

He was still crossing the lawn when he lost his battle to hold back the tears. She tried to hide it with her hand, but she burst into tears as she entered the pre-changing areaS. Accompanied by a Portuguese national security man, Ronaldo continued to walk towards the locker room amid uncontrollable weeping.

Ronaldo didn’t wait for his teammates who were still waiting on the pitch. Some of them, like Pepe or Bruno Fernandes, continued to protest with Tello but Cristiano was already going to the locker room.

The tough defeat and unexpected elimination were hugely frustrating for a team that knew they were candidates for the title due to the hierarchy of their individual players. That potential had relegated Cristiano Ronaldo to the substitutes’ bench like never before. Now away from Manchester United and without a club, the Portuguese idol now questioned about his attitudes towards the manager and his team-mates, has had one last big opportunity to write another glorious chapter in his impressive World Cup career.

The forward had warned before the World Cup that after the tournament he would cease to be part of the team that has had him as a leading figure and emblem for more than 15 years.

The Portuguese national team had reached the quarter-finals in fine form after topping their group and beating Switzerland 6-1 in the round of 16.

This afternoon (night in Qatar) was the last World Cup function of an outstanding player who broke dozens of records. He also left his mark in the top national competition: by scoring his first goal in Qatar he became one the first footballer to score goals in five consecutive World Cups.

Ronaldo is, together with Lionel Messi and a handful of players, one of the few footballers who have played in five World Cups. His debut as the Argentine captain was in Germany 2006.

The Portuguese emblem was also the youngest player in the history of his country to score in a World Cup, when he scored for his team in the 2006 World Cup, aged 21 years and 132 days, and also the oldest to score in World Cup, with his debut goal against Ghana, aged 37 years and 292 days.

The 1-0 defeat against the surprising Moroccan national team is, together with the triumph of the African team against Spain and the elimination of Germany, one of the biggest surprises of the World Cup.