Portugal coach Roberto Martinez dismissed criticism surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s workload and influence after the veteran captain completed another full match in Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Colombia, insisting there is no physical or mental concern about the 41-year-old striker as Portugal advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage.
The stalemate in the final Group K fixture left Portugal in second place, setting up a Round of 32 meeting with Croatia on Thursday. While several of football’s biggest stars were rested in their teams’ final group matches, Ronaldo became one of the few marquee players to play every minute of the group stage.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi began his side’s final group match on the bench, while Norway rested Erling Haaland after already securing qualification. Ronaldo, however, remained in Martinez’s starting lineup for a third consecutive game despite ongoing debate over his role within the Portuguese squad.
The Portugal captain has faced criticism throughout the tournament for contributing little defensively when the team loses possession, but Martinez rejected suggestions that Ronaldo’s playing time should be judged against the workload of other stars at the World Cup.
“Obviously we don’t compare players in our team with other players to make decisions,” Martinez told reporters. “I think that would be quite childish and very unprofessional.”
The Spanish coach said Portugal closely monitors physical data throughout every match and evaluates each player’s workload according to positional demands rather than public perception.
“I can tell you that we monitor all the information that we get live during the games,” Martinez said. “There are different positions on the pitch that need different needs and we monitor that down to the detail.”
Martinez added that Ronaldo’s experience and positioning reduce the physical burden associated with his role.
“Cristiano is used to being in the right place at the right time,” he said. “It’s more a question of mentally being strong and always being disciplined in his position.”
“There is no issue, physically or mentally, for Cristiano in today’s game to play the 90 minutes. Maybe the next game we need to make a change, but that’s like any other player.”
Portugal’s knockout match against Croatia will carry additional emotional significance for the squad because it falls one day before the anniversary of the death of forward Diogo Jota, whose passing has continued to affect the national team.
Jota was honored before kickoff against Colombia, with his image displayed on the stadium screens immediately after Portugal’s national anthem. Martinez said the anniversary should serve as motivation rather than sorrow.
“Obviously, every day is difficult,” he said. “When you are training, there are always moments that Diogo Jota comes back into our memories. So I wouldn’t say that the anniversary needs to be especially difficult. I would say that it’s a little bit of a celebration.”
Martinez said the squad remains determined to honor Jota by continuing its World Cup campaign.
“We need to honour Diogo Jota,” he said. “It’s a moment to cherish, that everything we started in this team started with him. We won the Nations League with him. He’s probably the sign and the light of the biggest stimulation that we have.”
“We want to win the World Cup for him. The anniversary is just a moment that makes the game Diogo Jota’s game.”
The Portugal coach acknowledged that Jota’s absence continues to be felt every day rather than only on symbolic occasions.
“It’s not a difficult moment, the difficulty is every day when he’s not there physically,” Martinez said. “Probably moments like this, when you don’t win a game, the reference of having his desire, his belief, is always very clear in our presence.”
Portugal will now turn its attention to Croatia, seeking a place in the Round of 16 while carrying both the expectations of another World Cup run and the emotional motivation of honoring a teammate whose memory continues to unite the squad.
