Ahead of Portugal’s opening 2026 World Cup group stage clash against DR Congo, national team head coach Roberto Martinez has doubled down on his unwavering support for 41-year-old icon Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to make history as the first men’s player to compete at six different World Cup tournaments. With a young, talent-dense squad that has earned Portugal a place among the pre-tournament favorites to lift their first-ever World Cup trophy, Ronaldo’s continued role in the starting lineup has sparked widespread debate across global football circles.
Critics of Ronaldo’s continued inclusion point to his recent dry spell at the highest level of international competition: the five-time Ballon d’Or holder, who holds the all-time men’s international goal record with 143 strikes, has not found the back of the net in his last nine appearances at major global tournaments. Detractors also note that he contributes minimal defensive work when Portugal is out of possession, a gap that could leave the side exposed against top opposition.
For Martinez, however, there is no question that Ronaldo remains Portugal’s top choice in the final third. In comments delivered at a pre-match press conference, the coach framed the veteran as a global benchmark for young footballers everywhere. “He is an example and a reference for football. For all those children on the street who begin to feel the love for sport, following the example of Cristiano Ronaldo is wonderful,” Martinez said.
The coach added that despite this being Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup campaign, the forward approaches preparation with the same hunger and intensity that marked his first appearance on the sport’s biggest stage. “It is his sixth World Cup, but I can say that internally it seems to be his first World Cup in terms of intensity, in terms of emotional output, of how important it is for him to be prepared to lead the group,” Martinez explained. “Within the team he is a vital player because he is the finisher, he is the player in the penalty area, he is the player who has those movements that can open spaces for other players. Within our attacking game, his numbers reflect the importance he has.”
That sentiment is echoed by Portugal’s young star core, led by Manchester United captain and recent Premier League Player of the Year Bruno Fernandes. Fernandes, who grew up watching Ronaldo compete, recalled first seeing the forward play at UEFA Euro 2004, hosted in Portugal when Ronaldo was just 19 years old and helped carry the side to the tournament final. “All of us in this national team we have grown up watching Cristiano Ronaldo play and for us it’s such an honour to play next to him now in the same team,” Fernandes said. “We’re all here to support him and to support Portugal to go as far as possible.”
Portugal’s squad boasts one of the deepest and most talented rosters in this year’s tournament. Beyond Fernandes’ standout form, the side fields a elite midfield that includes Vitinha and Joao Neves, who just claimed their second consecutive Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain, and Bernardo Silva, who is set to transfer to Real Madrid after nine trophy-laden seasons with Manchester City. Fernandes emphasized that the squad’s combination of individual elite talent and team cohesion makes them a legitimate contender, adding that the side has every right to dream of lifting the trophy. “We have a very strong team, great individual quality, and beyond the individual quality and the strengths that we have as individual players, I think we are a very cohesive team, a very united team,” Fernandes said. “Obviously our dream is to be there (winning the World Cup) and I think that dreaming is not forbidden.”
After facing DR Congo, Portugal will round out Group K play against tournament first-timers Uzbekistan and Colombia. Martinez, however, warned against overlooking Portugal’s opening opponent, pointing to recent high-profile upsets in early tournament matches—including Spain’s surprising 0-0 draw with underdog Cape Verde—to underscore that no World Cup match is a guaranteed win.
“We’ve got very little to win tomorrow from the outside. If you win against Congo, it’s expected. If you win by one, it’s a big problem. If you draw, it’s a catastrophe. If you lose, this is the end of the world,” said Martinez, a Spanish national. “They come with no expectations, they are enjoying being here. We’ve seen incredible performances from teams like Qatar, Cape Verde, exemplary performances, that shows you that there are no easy games in a World Cup.”
The coach also confirmed long-circulated reports that he will step down from his role following the World Cup, as his current contract is set to expire at the end of the tournament. “My contract ends after the World Cup. This is not news, this is just a fact,” Martinez added. “We’re now focused on finishing the work that we’ve begun three-and-a-half years ago. When I came to Portugal the focus was to try to win everything, but most importantly to prepare for the World Cup.”