‘Thank You Cristiano Ronaldo’: Belgian Influencer Celine Dept Heartbroken After CR7 and Portugal’s Emotional World Cup 2026 Exit (Watch Video)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup journey came to a heartbreaking end for Portugal and its legendary captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, following a narrow defeat in the knockout stages. The emotional weight of the exit resonated deeply across the football community, prompting a wave of tributes from fans and high-profile followers worldwide, including prominent social media personality Céline Dept. Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Down In Tears as Portugal's FIFA World Cup 2026 Dream Ends Against Spain (Watch Video).

Portugal Eliminated in World Cup 2026 Round of 16

Portugal was eliminated from the tournament on Monday night after a gruelling Round of 16 clash against Spain at Dallas Stadium. The highly competitive match remained deadlocked until the 91st minute when Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to seal a 1–0 victory for Spain.

The defeat concluded what has been officially confirmed as the final World Cup appearance of the 41-year-old forward's historic two-decade career. Ronaldo, playing in his record-breaking sixth World Cup edition, played the full 90 minutes but was unable to breach Spain's resolute defence before the final whistle blew.

Celine Dept Reacts to Ronaldo's Heartbreaking World Cup 2026 Exit

Among the millions of fans witnessing the historic conclusion to Ronaldo's World Cup career was Belgian content creator Céline Dept. Having travelled to Texas to attend the knockout match in person, Dept was visible in tears in the stands as she watched her longtime football idol navigate the painful moments immediately following the elimination.

Following the match, Dept took to Instagram to share her emotional response to the end of an era. Sharing her thoughts from the stadium, she captioned her post:"No words for this.. Thank you for everything Portugal. Thank you for everything Cristiano Ronaldo."

Celine Dept's Instagram Post

Who Is Celine Dept?

Céline Dept is a 26-year-old Belgian influencer and digital content creator who has established herself as one of the most popular internet personalities globally. Primarily active on YouTube and TikTok, Dept commands an audience of nearly 60 million subscribers on her main YouTube channel, alongside more than 16 million followers on TikTok.  A former football player herself, Dept's content heavily features sports-related challenges and high-profile collaborations. While she has worked alongside various modern football stars, including Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, she has frequently cited Ronaldo as her ultimate sports inspiration. Notably, she met Ronaldo in person just weeks prior to the tournament during Portugal's pre-World Cup training camp.

Ronaldo Reflects on Final World Cup Appearance

Speaking to journalists in the post-match press conference, a reflective Cristiano Ronaldo addressed the media to officially bring the curtain down on his World Cup legacy. While acknowledging the sting of the late defeat, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner emphasised his peace of mind regarding his effort.Spain had a little bit of luck with their late goal, but that's football," Ronaldo said. "Overall, it was a very even game. Of course, it's painful to leave the FIFA World Cup, but I gave everything I had. I did everything possible, and I leave with a clear conscience." ‘I’m Sorry Ronaldo’: IShowSpeed Breaks Down Amid Cristiano Ronaldo Retirement Buzz and Portugal Exit From FIFA World Cup 2026; Heartbreaking Video Goes Viral – WATCH.

Confirming that North America marked his final global tournament, Ronaldo stated he would take time before making decisions regarding his broader international future. "This was my last World Cup. Tomorrow I'll wake up knowing I gave absolutely everything for my country," he added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 08, 2026 12:13 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).