The country's greatest-ever player couldn't deliver Portugal the biggest prize of all, so can the next generation now step up in four years' time?
And so it's (probably) official: Cristiano Ronaldo, for all his greatness, will end his career having never won the World Cup. Portugal's wait for the biggest trophy of them all goes on, their campaign in Qatar ended as Morocco made history in the quarter-finals.
This might not the blast we see of Ronaldo at a major tournament. While he has hinted at international retirement, the European Championship is just 18 months away, and Ronaldo will certainly believe he has something offer, even at 39.
Playing at another World Cup when he reaches the age of 41 is, however, surely above even the great man, and so the Selecao must now start planning for the next generation to carry the torch for their country.
The good news is, there are loads of talented players coming through in Portugal, with some already established internationals while others are just making their way into first teams at their clubs.
But who among them has a chance to be in the line up the next time the World Cup is played in 2026? GOAL breaks down their options…
Getty ImagesGK: Diogo Costa
Costa only recently took over as Portugal's No.1 goalkeeper, but the Porto shot-stopper looks primed to be the man between the sticks for a long time given he only recently turned 23.
His excellent penalty-saving record certainly makes him an asset for tournament football, and though he still has some improvements to make to his game, Costa profiles as one of the next generation's best 'keepers.
In terms of younger players to watch, Benfica duo Samuel Soares (20) and Andre Gomes (18) are both highly-rated, and are the current No.1s for Portugal's Under-21s and U19s, respectively.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRB: Joao Cancelo
Cancelo had a World Cup to forget in Qatar, as the Manchester City man struggled for form before being dropped to bench for the knockout stages.
His quality, however, is clear, while his versatility is also helpful at tournaments, and so while he will be 32 by the time the next World Cup kicks-off, it would be a shock were he not still in contention to start.
Diogo Dalot (23), who replaced Cancelo at right-back over the past couple of weeks, is the obvious alternative, especially if he can continue to be a starter for Manchester United.
There are high hopes, too, for Sporting C.P. teenager Goncalo Esteves, who has already played in both the Portuguese top-flight and the Champions League before his 19th birthday.
Getty ImagesCB: Antonio Silva
Silva's rise has been meteoric, as he went from making his first-team debut for Benfica at the end of August to starting for his country in the World Cup just over three months later.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 19-year-old is now being linked with the great and good of European football, with Benfica likely to make a huge profit on yet another homegrown talent in the next couple of years.
Others who could factor in the centre-back discussion over the next four years include Lille's Tiago Djalo (22) and Braga's David Carmo (23), both of whom were called-up to recent Portugal squads before failing to make the World Cup roster.
Getty ImagesCB: Goncalo Inacio
Ruben Dias may seem like the obvious answer when it comes to Silva's long-term partner at the heart of the Portugal defence, but there are some concerns that he has struggled to replicate his form from the 2020-21 season over the past 18 months.
The Manchester City man will be 29 when the next World Cup kicks-off and should be in his prime years, but for now we've gone for the younger man in Sporting's Inacio.
The 21-year-old has been linked with Manchester United and Barcelona in recent months, and though he is yet to be capped by his country, that should change now that the likes of Pepe and Jose Fonte will be moving on.
Others who will be hopeful of pushing on and earning international recognition before 2026 include Hoffenheim's Eduardo Quaresma (20) and Servette teenager Diogo Monteiro (17).