Di 2026 FIFA World Cup don see plenty stunning upsets and emotional wins. But di sweet-bitter part na di final dances from some of di greatest soccer players wey don grace dis generation. Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal, Neymar from Brazil, Guillermo Ochoa from Mexico and Manuel Neuer from Germany na some of di footballers wey compete for dia last World Cup — collapsing for tears, bowing to fans and kissing di post before dem bid farewell.
Ronaldo im run end on Monday after Portugal lose to Spain 1-0. Di Portuguese superstar bin be 21 when im make im first World Cup appearance. Dis summer mark im sixth — a feat wey only Argentina Lionel Messi share. At 41, Ronaldo return as di second oldest player for dis year World Cup. Nevertheless, im score three goals — proving say im still be a force to reckon with. Im now return home without ever earning a World Cup title. But on Sunday, after confirm say dis go be im last tournament, Ronaldo talk say im just dey enjoy every moment on di turf. “God don be so generous to me. Im don give me everything. Much more than I ever expect to achieve,” im tell reporters on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Brazil top goalscorer Neymar, 34, complete im last dance on di very New Jersey field where im make im international debut back for 2010. On Sunday, im team lose to Norway 2-1 with Brazil single goal scored by Neymar for a penalty kick. Im do so despite suffer from a stubborn calf injury wey force am to sit out for most of di tournament. At di final whistle, Neymar kneel down, lower im head and weep before a teammate come console am. “I try,” Neymar talk after di game, according to AP. “It start here at MetLife Stadium, and I finish here. It now over.”
Last month, di crowd go wild when Mexico veteran goalkeeper Ochoa sub in for di final 18 minutes against Czech Republic. After di game, Ochoa, wey be 40 and di third oldest player at di tournament, kiss di post and bow to im fans with tears for im eyes before leave di pitch. Mexico bin eliminate by England 3-2 on Sunday. “I enjoy each moment here. I give am my all. I leave peacefully and with my head held high and I proud to experience dis,” Ochoa talk for FIFA “Letters that Unite” video series wey publish June 15.
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 40, wey dem consider as one of di greatest goalkeepers of all time, come out of international retirement to represent im home country one last time. Di team only advance to di Round of 32 after lose to Paraguay for a penalty shootout but Neuer talk say im leave with immense gratitude. “Despite di bitter ending, I no regret dis step for a second,” im write on Instagram. Neuer add say im partly return to support di team young players.
For a way, dis last dances na simply an act of passing di baton. “Na di new generation turn to play,” talk Algeria Riyad Mahrez, 35, after im team World Cup exit earlier dis month, according to AP. Mahrez dey retire from international soccer as a five-time Premier League winner and one of Africa bests.
Many speculate say di 2022 World Cup go be Messi last. Instead, di 39-year-old Argentine GOAT return dis summer to possibly claim di trophy for a second time for a row — unseen since Brazil back-to-back victory for 1958 and 1962 and ending on di ultimate high note.
