Portugal’s World Cup adventure ended on July 6, when Spain’s Mikel Merino scored a late winner to eliminate the 2016 European champions in the round of 16. The defeat also set off an unusual
Portugal’s World Cup adventure ended on July 6, when Spain’s Mikel Merino scored a late winner to eliminate the 2016 European champions in the round of 16.
The defeat also set off an unusual debate on Polymarket: Will Cristiano Ronaldo cry at the World Cup?
Source: Polymarket Launched in 2020, the New York City-headquartered Polymarket is the world’s largest prediction market. It lets traders predict events like FIFA match events, future Bitcoin prices, election results, government shutdowns, etc., by paying with cryptocurrency. The payout depends on whether the outcome meets the market’s stated criteria.
Traders can deposit Circle's USDC stablecoin, a type of digital dollar, and trade shares that represent the likelihood of specific future outcomes.
The Ronaldo crying contract on Polymarket had attracted millions of dollars in trading volume by press time, as a growing number of traders took positions on whether Ronaldo’s post-match reaction met the market’s threshold for a “Yes” outcome.
Outcomes of Ronaldo crying market on Polymarket get disputed Its comment section was also filled with users debating broadcast footage, photos and reports from the stadium, with some arguing that he was visibly crying and others questioning whether the available evidence would satisfy Polymarket’s resolution rules.
Polymarket traders debating Ronaldo's tearsThough there have been reports from multiple outlets saying Ronaldo as being in tears, the contract’s outcome remained subject to its specified evidence and settlement terms.
At the time of writing, the Polymarket contract had recorded more than $2.6 million in trading volume.
Trending on TheStreet RoundtableRonaldo, 41, had confirmed before the Spain match that the 2026 tournament would be his final World Cup. He was visibly emotional while acknowledging Portugal fans after the loss.
The World Cup was the ultimate trophy missing from Ronaldo’s international career.
He won the UEFA European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and two UEFA Nations League titles, while setting the men’s international scoring record with 146 goals in 233 appearances.
@PolymarketSport he has a tear under his left eye. This should end in YES. pic.twitter.com/SDFaYYNZkL
— Dr. Popescu (@DrPopescu1) July 6, 2026
While the 41-year-old’s final opportunity to lift football’s biggest prize ended with Spain’s late goal, Polymarket traders kept debating whether he shed a tear or not.
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