Cristiano Ronaldo was captured by television cameras walking off in tears as Portugal are dumped out of the 2022 World Cup with a 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the quarter-finals.

The 37-year-old came off the bench in the 51st minute of the match to replace Ruben Neves with Portugal trailing 1-0 after a first-half goal from Youssef En-Nesyri. The former Manchester United star was unable to inspire his country back into the contest, despite Portugal throwing everything they could at finding an equaliser.

Ronaldo missed a chance late on as his right-footed effort was drilled low into goalkeeper Yassine Bounou’s hands among a string of chances late on from his team-mates including a header from Pepe.

The final whistle left the forward heartbroken after failing to keep his dreams alive of one last crack at football’s greatest international prize. He will be 41 when the next World Cup comes around in the summer of 2026, meaning that was most likely his final opportunity to win the major tournament.

ITV pundit Ally McCoist said: ‘Yes Ronaldo is upset, but It is not about [Ronaldo] him tonight. His time has been.

‘It is all about Morocco this evening. What an example they have shown with that organisation, the flair, the ability to work for each other. ‘If we are brutally honest, Pepe had a chance at the end, but I can’t remember anything else.’

Morocco made history by becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final with their shock victory. They will now face the winner of either France or England in the final four of the tournament in Qatar.

• A Daily Mail report

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