Roberto Martinez says Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest even without a World Cup
roberto martinez said Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest player of all time and that the forward’s mentality, discipline and leadership matter as Portugal prepares for the 2026 World Cup.
Roberto Martinez on Ronaldo's daily drive
Speaking on the Portugal Football Summit podcast, Martínez said he has never worked with a footballer who matches Cristiano Ronaldo’s daily standard. Martínez said, "Each morning he gets up with the goal of improving, " and added that "if we could have Cristiano forever, it would be the easiest way to help young players who arrive at the national team. " He also summarized the secret of Ronaldo’s career succinctly in a one-minute explanation during the appearance.
Leadership and the squad Martínez built since 2023
Since taking charge in 2023, Martínez has constructed a competitive Portugal squad with strong internal leadership, and he described Ronaldo’s mentality as a fundamental asset. Martínez said the striker will be remembered as the best player of all time whether or not he wins the World Cup, and he stressed the coaching staff’s responsibility to create conditions to compete at the highest level while keeping a culture of continuous improvement that helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League.
How recent Nations League results bolstered confidence
Martínez pointed to the Nations League triumph as a boost to the team’s confidence and competitive maturity. Portugal secured historic results in that campaign, including a victory in Germany — a country they had not beaten in 25 years — and faced a European champion in the final, experiences Martínez says reinforced the squad’s conviction. He also warned that the tournament format, with multiple camps and decisive matches in a short span, creates pressure comparable to a major international competition.
Ronaldo's World Cup record and club form
roberto martinez highlighted specific records and recent form when assessing Ronaldo’s legacy. Cristiano and Lionel Messi are both set to contest a sixth World Cup, a record, although Ronaldo has not yet won the tournament. Ronaldo has played 22 World Cup matches across 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 — the fifth-highest total — yet he has never scored in a knockout match at the competition. He is the only player to have scored in five different World Cups, but his eight World Cup goals all came in group-stage play (one in 2006, one in 2010, one in 2014, four in 2018 and one in 2022), and three of those goals were penalties.
At club level, Ronaldo has 94 goals in 97 Saudi Pro League appearances since joining Al-Nassr in late 2022, with 20 goals in 20 matches this season. Martínez noted that the 41-year-old has 143 international goals — the highest total for any male footballer — and called his recent scoring run for the national team "a gift, " pointing to 25 goals in the last 30 matches for Portugal.
2022 context, selection decisions and player welfare
Martínez referenced the controversial selection choices at the 2022 World Cup when Fernando Santos left Ronaldo out before Portugal’s round-of-16 tie with Switzerland; Gonçalo Ramos replaced him and scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win, and Portugal then exited in the following round. Martínez also urged stronger protections for players’ well-being, saying "rest is not negotiable" and that a footballer needs three to four weeks to recover physically and mentally. He pointed out he holds one of the best win percentages in Portugal’s history and that caring for players is essential to sustain competitive success.
Portugal’s World Cup path
Portugal will be drawn in Group K at the World Cup with Uzbekistan and Colombia, plus the winner of a play-off route that includes DR Congo, Jamaica and New Caledonia. Portugal is preparing for that tournament with Martínez emphasizing both Ronaldo’s ongoing role on and off the pitch and the need to manage a packed international calendar.
The next confirmed milestone is Portugal’s build-up toward the 2026 World Cup, where the squad will face Uzbekistan, Colombia and the play-off winner in Group K.
