India, July 7 -- Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup story has ended without the one prize that chased him all the way to the final bend of his international career.

Portugal's Round of 16 defeat to Spain did not just end another campaign. It closed the World Cup chapter of one of football's most decorated careers, with Ronaldo confirming after the match that he has played his final game in the tournament. The 41-year-old, however, stopped short of announcing his international retirement, insisting that he would not make an emotional decision in the immediate aftermath of elimination.

Ronaldo was left in tears after Portugal's 1-0 defeat, a result that sent Spain through and left Portugal facing another painful reckoning. For Ronaldo, it was ...