Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended Cristiano Ronaldo after the captain played the full 90 minutes in the goalless draw against Colombia, insisting the veteran remains physically and mentally ready for the World Cup knockout stage.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has defended his decision to play Cristiano Ronaldo for the full 90 minutes in Saturday’s goalless World Cup draw against Colombia, insisting the veteran striker remains physically and mentally capable of handling the demands of the tournament.
The stalemate saw Portugal finish second in Group K and book their place in the Round of 32, but Ronaldo’s game time once again became a major talking point.
While several tournament stars, including Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland, were rested for their teams’ final group matches, the 41-year-old completed every minute of Portugal’s group-stage campaign.
Ronaldo has faced criticism throughout the tournament, with some questioning whether he should continue starting every match. Others have pointed to his reduced defensive workload compared to his teammates, arguing that Portugal may benefit from rotating their captain as the knockout rounds approach.
Nothing to separate Colombia and Portugal at Miami Stadium 🤝#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 28, 2026
Martinez, however, dismissed comparisons between Ronaldo and other players, stressing that every member of his squad is managed according to individual physical data rather than public opinion or what other national teams choose to do with their stars.
“Obviously we don’t compare players in our team with other players to make decisions. I think that would be quite childish and very unprofessional,” Martinez told reporters after the match.
The Portugal coach explained that his staff monitor every player’s condition throughout matches using live performance data, adding that different positions require different physical demands. According to Martinez, Ronaldo continues to meet every requirement needed to remain on the pitch.
“Cristiano is used to being in the right place at the right time,” he said. “It’s more a question of mentally being strong and always being disciplined in his position. There is no issue, physically or mentally, for Cristiano in today’s game to play the 90 minutes.”
Despite standing firmly behind his captain, Martinez did not rule out making changes once the knockout rounds begin. He suggested that squad rotation remains an option depending on each player’s condition, making it clear that Ronaldo will be treated no differently from the rest of the squad if circumstances require.
Portugal now shift their focus to the Round of 32 after an unbeaten group-stage campaign. While debate over Ronaldo’s role is likely to continue, Martinez has made it clear that he retains complete confidence in his captain and believes the five-time Ballon d’Or winner still has an important role to play as Portugal chase World Cup glory.
