Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Friday, May 15, 2026, 5:57 p.m. / Updated Friday, May 15, 2026, 5:58 p.m.
Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for what could be the last major tournament of his career and Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has spoken openly about the superstar's status ahead of the World Cup.
Having reached the age of 41, Ronaldo will participate in the sixth World Cup of his career, an unprecedented feat in the history of football. However, Martinez made it clear that in the Portuguese national team no one plays based on the past.
Roberto Marinez, Portugal coach: “We are working with Cristiano the footballer, not the legendary figure”
In an interview with Reuters in Lisbon, the Portugal coach explained that Ronaldo will be treated like any other player in the squad.
“We are working with Cristiano Ronaldo, the footballer who is trying to get a place in the national team for the 2026 World Cup, not with the legendary figure of Cristiano.
Age is just a number. With the national team, we can assess exactly what happens on the day of the match and make the decisions for the next day,” said the coach.
“Cristiano will accept his role, whatever it is”
There is already serious debate in Portugal about Ronaldo's role at the finals, especially after the previous one in 2022 when Fernando Santos left him on the bench against Switzerland.
But Martinez claims that the Al Nassr striker perfectly understands the demands of modern football.
“Now we have five changes during the match. It's almost like having a team for the start of the match and a team for the end of it. Pto me there is no difference. We have different roles and Cristiano accepts his role, whatever it is. A man who has won everything has the appetite of a man who has yet to win a trophy.”
This hunger for success and trophies made him a very important figure in the dressing room, but also outside it. He is fantastic in these movements, these sprints, opening up spaces, destabilizing centre-backs.
He is disciplined to get into the right positions and always executes our offensive schemes“, also explained the selector Roberto Martinez.
Cristiano Ronaldo is making history again
By participating in the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo becomes the first footballer in history to play in six different World Cups.
So far, the Portuguese has been present at:
At the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in five different editions of the World Cup. When it comes to appearances at world finals, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are perfectly equal: both played in five editions of the World Cup.
At the final tournament in 2026, both Ronaldo and Messi will reach six contested World Cups, an unprecedented feat in football history.
Portugal will play in Group K, alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
