Some questions never really go away. Every time Portugal lines up for a major tournament, the same debate follows Cristiano Ronaldo onto the field. Is he still the right man to lead this attack or is it finally time to hand the reins to the next generation?
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup now on the doorstep, those conversations have picked up again. Portugal arrives as one of the deeper squads in international soccer with plenty of attacking options at Martinez's disposal. But the head coach isn't entertaining the idea of moving on from his captain.
Portugal Boss Offers Strong Backing for Cristiano Ronaldo
Just days before Portugal kicks off its World Cup campaign, Martinez sat down with The Athletic's James Horncastle and put the Ronaldo debate to rest in plain terms.
"A unique footballer that has changed the game," Martinez said. "His commitment to the game is still an example for many young players. Twenty-one years of service to the national team, 227 games for the national team. No other player has done that. The number of goals. All those figures make Cristiano Ronaldo iconic. The influence of Cristiano Ronaldo as a No. 9, the movement, the timing of the movement, the finishing, the way he opens spaces, the way that he can influence the defensive back line of the opposition, that's a big, big strength."
Martinez understands that what still sets Ronaldo apart is the pressure he puts on opposing defenses just by being on the field. Defenders know exactly what he's capable of and stopping him remains a different matter entirely.
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Ronaldo's Record-Breaking Legacy With Portugal
Across 226 appearances for his country, Ronaldo has scored a record 143 international goals, a mark nobody else in the history of the game has come close to matching. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's movement in and around the penalty area, his timing, and his finishing have built a résumé that stands alone.
His move to Al Nassr after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar had plenty of people calling it the beginning of the end. Instead, he won a Saudi Pro League title with the club four years later and kept producing at the international level.
In 2025 he scored in both the UEFA Nations League semifinal and final as Portugal lifted the trophy and then added five goals in five World Cup qualifying appearances.
Portugal is drawn in Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia, with matches set for Houston and Miami. Martinez has his squad ready for those tests, and his message ahead of them couldn't be clearer.
This is expected to be Ronaldo's sixth and final World Cup. Predictions about the end of his career have never quite held up, though, and with Portugal co-hosting the 2030 edition, writing him off completely still feels like the wrong move.
