'Washed' Ronaldo Farewell Tour Off to Rocky Start
Ronaldo Gutted as Farewell Portugal Goal Ruled Out
Batten down the hatches and call the light brigade - Cristiano Ronaldo is washed and his international career is being put out to pasture a solid four or five years later than it should have been already.
He was left heartbroken last night as his goal against Wales was disallowed, in the midst of a far-from-perfect performance by the Portugal, Manchester United and Real Madrid legend.
“I am an asset, I can help Portugal in big tournaments”
— has Real Madrid robbed a club ? (@Has_RMrbdaclub) September 24, 2026
Meanwhile Ronaldo in glorified friendly: pic.twitter.com/HiwBWb3IGH
Al Nassr teammate Joao Felix's deflected 20-yard effort was enough to clinch a 1-0 win against Craig Bellamy's Wales in last nights Nations League match, but the performance of Ronaldo continues to mark a sad end to a glittering career.
Ronaldo Flatters to Deceive in Win on Wales
In Lisbon, all of the pre-match chatter was focussed solely on Ronaldo's future - the now 41-year-old has set himself the target of reaching 1,000 career goals before he retires from the sport.
A performance against troubled Wales would have done him some good in reaching that tally, but he drew a blank on an evening spent at his first professional football ground at Sporting, where he broke through before joining Manchester United.
But pleasant memories aside, Ronaldo missed four good chances in the first half and an absolute sitter in the second - shinning the ball wide from just six yards - before seeing the 980th goal of his career ruled out for offside by VAR.
🚨 RONALDO HUGE MISS 😱
— Football on Predict (@FConPredict) September 24, 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo somehow misses from point-blank range for Portugal against Wales 😭 pic.twitter.com/kKYM6O0J3V
It served as a reminder that Ronaldo was human all along, and the relentless passing of time shall wait nor stop for no man.
As a result, Ronaldo remains on 979 career goals with 146 of them coming for Portugal, for whom he has won 234 international caps.
Ronaldo Frustrated
Every Ronaldo touch was applauded wildly by the enthusiastic home crowd inside the Jose Alvalade.
Ronaldo – marked by Ben Cabango of Swansea in the Championship – sent an early warning in the tenth minute, but the former Real Madrid and Juventus superstar dragged a left-footed shot wide from a tight angle after Felix’s precise pass.
Ronaldo had an even better chance minutes later only for Nottingham Forest star Neco Williams to produce a block as the ball went out for a corner.
Portugal, with five Champions League winners and three Ballon d’Or nominees – Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha – in Jorge Jesus’ first starting line-up were dominant. Manchester City defender Ruben Dias headed over before Chelsea winger Pedro Neto prodded wide at the back post.
Despite being on the back foot, Bellamy and Wales would have beenhappy with how the visitors navigated the opening 20 minutes,particularly with the impressive way Liverpool’s Lewis Koumas held theball up.
But Felix broke the deadlock midway through the first half when left-back Mendes stormed past Ethan Ampadu before supplying Felix 30yards out. The ex-Chelsea forward hit his right-footed effort from outside the penalty box and Davies’ deflection took the ball past Danny Ward into the corner - the Dragons keeper really should have done better with the shot.
This what carrying looks like
— 𝐝 𝐨 𝐧 𝐤 𝐢 𝐧 𝐠 (@ezekafor001) September 24, 2026
Shameless 😭 pic.twitter.com/WFX5dtAZJz
Ronaldo saw a free-kick hit the wall and Wales fans responded with“You’re just a shit Gareth Bale!”, in reference to their greatest player who played alongside CR7 at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo then had a tame shot at Ward and he walked away frustrated with himself as he failed to get a clean connection on a bobbly pitch, yet the goalscoring phenomenon was fuming after he failed to convert Ruben Neves’ 50th minute cross.
Neves flashed the ball across the box where Ronaldo was unmarked, but he leaped to cushion the ball home at the back post only for it to bounce off his leg and sail over the crossbar. Ronaldo, normally as cool as a cucumber, could not believe he had missed and the home fans instantly chanted his name in a bid to lift his spirits.
But his luck did not change even when he beat Ward just before the hour mark.
Ronaldo raced on to a Bruno Fernandes pass and rolled the ball beyond Wrexham keeper Ward but his famously nauseating ‘Siuuu’ celebration was cut short as VAR chalked off the goal.
🚨The entire stadium did the “Siuuu” celebration with Cristiano Ronaldo
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) September 24, 2026
Unfortunately, his goal was ruled out for offside pic.twitter.com/kXdvBVvjod
Ronaldo had another shot straight at Ward but that was his final contribution as he received a standing ovation when Goncalo Ramos replaced him in the 68th minute.
With Ronaldo on the sidelines, Wales came so close to an equaliser. Brennan Johnson’s effort from an acute angle hit the bar before Koumas’ follow-up shot was blocked by Dias on the line.
Harry Pascoe 
Joe Ryan 
