Roberto Martinez says “making difficult decisions” part of his job
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has no problem benching Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 World Cup if he believes it necessary for the team.
Ronaldo is gearing up to lead Portugal to football’s showpiece event, despite being 40 years old, as the superstar tries one more shot at the major trophy that has so far eluded him. But critics have insisted that he is merely holding a talented team back, and that he should step aside for younger strikers.
“I think we need to accept that everyone in the world knows Cristiano Ronaldo and has an opinion [about him],” Martinez said. “But the Cristiano Ronaldo who joined the national team 21 years ago is not the same Cristiano he is now.
“Now, he’s much more of a positional player, a striker. He’s a player who, for us, is a finisher. He’s the all-time leading scorer. So, having a player who now has 25 goals in the last 30 games for the national team is a gift.
“For me, his commitment is very important. He’s the only player in the world with more than 220 international caps. So, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s experience, having the commitment he has, he’s an example, and he’s a player who inspires the locker room.”
Martinez also insisted that “the national team is better when Cristiano is on the field”, a comment that has been made by other players in the team, including Bruno Fernandes.
“We’re talking about the most experienced player in the world, the most experienced player in world football,” said Martinez. “So, for us, we need to utilise that. It can only be positive for a new player to arrive in the locker room and be able to learn from the most experienced player there is.”
However, the Portugal coach also made clear he could bench the forward if he felt it was right.
“It’s part of my job,” said Martinez. “I’ve been in this position for three years now. The most important thing is that the team wins, that the team is stronger than the opponent. That’s my responsibility and also the coaching staff’s. Making difficult decisions is part of our job.”
