Football 29w1y
‘He Is Not in the Team Today for What He Has Been’ – Roberto Martinez Explains Why Cristiano Ronaldo Is Still a Shoo-in for Portugal 566q
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Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has heaped praise on captain Cristiano Ronaldo, justifying his selection and hailing the 40-year-old as an inspiration to the entire team.
Ronaldo, who turned 40 on 5 February, remains one of the first names on the international call sheet. Since making his Portugal senior team debut in 2003, the Al-Nassr superstar has played 217 international games, scoring a whopping 135 times. The 2016 European Championship winner is the all-time top scorer and leading appearance-maker in international football.
Roberto Martinez on Why He Keeps Calling Cristiano Ronaldo Up for Portugal 2c6c2l
After making history by becoming the first player to feature in six European Championship tournaments last year, Cristiano Ronaldo is aiming to make a mark at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the age of 41.
While some of his critics believe the Portuguese has overstayed his welcome and should make way for younger players, Roberto Martinez has explained why he continues to keep faith in CR7.
Discussing the topic of Ronaldo’s selection, Martinez told the Coaches Voice:
“When I talk about a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, I also evaluate him on the basis of these three key aspects. His talent is indisputable; he is one of the best in the history of football. His experience is also unique: the only player to play in six European Championships and to have more than 200 international matches.
“But what stands out the most is his commitment. His ion for representing Portugal is contagious and motivates the entire team. He is not in the team today for what he has been, but for what he continues to be: the top scorer with 17 goals in the 21 games we have played in two years.”
Martinez also expressed his desire to complete Portugal’s trophy cabinet by guiding them to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The former Belgium coach added:
“The big dream with Portugal is to win the only title that this team is missing: the World Cup. It is not a question of avoiding pressure, but of assuming it with ambition. We want to find the balance between immediate success and building a project with a vision for the future.”
Ronaldo and Co. will return to action with a clash against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals on Thursday, 20 March.