ARLINGTON, Texas — The crowd erupted when he came off the bus. They cheered when he hustled out for pregame warmups. His name drew the biggest roar when the starting lineups were announced.

But after more than 90 minutes of thrilling action, tears filled Cristiano Ronaldo’s eyes as he walked off a World Cup field for the final time. 

“I’m sad to leave the World Cup this way,” Ronaldo said after a 1-0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 at an electric Dallas Stadium. “I gave it my all, and I leave with a clear conscience. That’s the life of a footballer. You have to move forward.

“It was my last World Cup, yes. But as for the rest, there’s time to think, to be with my family, and not say things in the heat of the moment.”

At 41 years old, the Portuguese star still captivates every stadium he plays in. The number of fans wearing his jersey, whether it’s a national team kit or one from his days at Real Madrid or Manchester United, dwarfed every other player on the pitch tenfold, even 18-year-old Spain star Lamine Yamal, the next big thing.

“We’re talking about an icon in football,” Portugal manager Roberto Martinez said. “There aren’t many Cristiano Ronaldos. We have to be thankful for what he did at this World Cup. He wanted to win it — as a player, a captain, on a human level. We’ll all take it with us forever.”

Amid the appreciation for a successful international career that featured 233 appearances and 146 goals, both all-time records for Portugal, as well as a major trophy at the 2016 European Championship, Ronaldo’s final act on the world’s biggest stage was a microcosm of the late stages of his career.

Ronaldo scored just one goal, a penalty, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as questions about his spot as the team’s starting striker came into question during a surprise exit against Morocco in the quarterfinals. 

On Monday against Spain, he managed only 19 total touches, none after the 80th minute. He had three shots, only one of which was on target.

As his team struggled to make headway against a stout Spanish defense, Ronaldo was left on the pitch while backup Goncalo Ramos, who was the hero against Croatia in the round of 32, wasn’t given a chance.

All Ronaldo could do was watch from outside the 18-yard box as Mikel Merino slid the game-winning goal past Diogo Costa in the first minute of stoppage time.

Despite tears at the end of it, Ronaldo’s final World Cup game showed why the tournament is so special because of the opponent on the other side. 

They are two countries that have shared relatively the same border for nearly 1,000 years. And they played only 20 miles away from Cotton Bowl Stadium, which annually hosts the Red River Showdown, a befitting scenario. The Oklahoma-Texas rivalry might be the United States’ closest comp to the Iberian Derby. 

Monday’s game was just the third World Cup meeting between the two countries. Ronaldo was a part of all three. 

Aside from the fact both are fans wearing the color red, the only agreement between the Portugal and Spain supporters was their displeasure for the hydration breaks inside the climate-controlled Dallas Stadium. That was until after the final whistle.

As Ronaldo looked into the crowd with tears in his eyes, the entire stadium, the large contingent of Spaniards included, came together to applaud one of the greatest players the game has seen.

Just about every one of the Spanish players came over to shake his hand, most notably Yamal, who has burst onto the national stage the way Ronaldo did two decades ago. 

Even in defeat, the game never fails to recognize greatness — the ethos of the World Cup. 

“I believe Portugal should be immensely proud of Cristiano,” Spain captain Rodri said. “It’s amazing. He is an exemplary role model for future generations.

“When we talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, we’re talking about one of the greatest players in football history.”