CRISTIANO RONALDO has vowed to come back stronger for the World Cup after Portugal’s Euro heartache.
The defending champions were sent packing on Monday night after Thorgan Hazard’s brilliant strike sent Belgium into the next round.
Ronaldo, 36, is currently the tournament’s top scorer with five goals – one ahead of Czech Republic’s Patrick Schick.
The legendary captain spoke out for the first time since the knockout claiming his team are ‘proud’ of their tournament.
Taking to Instagram, he wrote: “We didn’t get the result we wanted and we left the race sooner than we wanted.
“But we are proud of our journey, we gave everything to renew the title of European Champions and this group proved that it can still give much joy to the Portuguese.
“Our fans were tireless in supporting the team from start to finish.
“We ran and fought for them, in order to live up to the trust they placed in us. It was not possible to get where we all wanted, but here is our sincere and profound thanks.
“Congratulations to Belgium and good luck to all the teams that remain in the competition. As for us, we will come back stronger. Force Portugal!”
Ronaldo, who has represented Portugal in nine major tournaments, previously revealed how he believes the World Cup in Qatar is likely to be his last.
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He is his country’s top scorer with 109 goals, equalling the all-time international record set by Ali Daei.
The Juventus ace, who will be 37 by the start of the next tournament, said: “I expect Qatar could be my final World Cup. I often go on holidays there, to Qatar as well as Dubai.
“I am happy because for sure it will be last international tournament.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
