"No one is guaranteed a spot" - Roberto Martinez provides bold response on Cristiano Ronaldo's future as a starter in Portugal national team
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has insisted that no one, including Cristiano Ronaldo, has a guaranteed spot in his starting XI. He also insisted that he was looking for impactful players, highlighting how some stars can prove to be more crucial towards the end of the game despite not being a starter.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest men's international player of all time from a statistical point of view, garnering 135 goals and 45 assists in 215 appearances across all competitions. The 39-year-old is the highest scorer and most-capped player in the men's game.
Despite temporarily losing his starting spot to Goncalo Ramos during the 2022 FIFA World Cup knockout stages under Fernando Santos, Roberto Martinez quickly reversed this decision upon his appointment weeks later. Ronaldo has repaid his manager's faith since then, accumulating 17 goals and four assists in 21 games.
While some fans and pundits have questioned Cristiano Ronaldo being a starter in 2024, Martinez told EFE (via beIN Sports):
“In the national team, no one is guaranteed a spot—it’s all about merit. Cristiano, like every other player, is in a competitive environment where everyone must prove their worth. The concept of being a starter has changed; with five substitutions, some players are more crucial at the end of a match than at the start.”
He also referenced Eder's winning goal during the Euro 2016 final against France as an example of a substitute making a huge difference in a game:
"It’s about being impactful, not just starting the match. Cristiano understands that and continues to work at the highest level.”
Martinez also outlined his goals for the future.
“Our goal is for 2025 to be a pivotal year of preparation for the World Cup. We want to assemble a strong team where the experience of players like Cristiano combines with the drive of younger generations. Achieving that balance will be key to our success,” he concluded.
Portugal next face Denmark in the first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-final on March 20, 2025.
Cristiano Ronaldo has struggled to impress for Portugal in last 2 major competitions
Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of Portugal's most influential players over the past two decades, leading them to Euro 2016 and 2019 Nations League glory. However, he hasn't had the best of outings in their last two major competitions, despite flourishing in European qualifiers and international friendlies.
Cristiano Ronaldo struggled during the 2022 FIFA World Cup despite Portugal being booked as one of the favorites to go all the way. He scored just one goal in five games, losing his starting spot in the knockout stages, as A Selecao were knocked out by Morocco in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 scoreline.
Moreover, the Al-Nassr ace didn't fare much better for his national side during Euro 2024 under Martinez's tutelage. He failed to score a single goal and provided just the one assist in five games as Portugal lost to France in the quarter-finals this summer.