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Martínez praises Ronaldo after Portugal's World Cup exit

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 6, 2026, 11:33 PM

Last updated Jul 6, 2026

Martínez praises Ronaldo after Portugal's World Cup exit

Summary

Roberto Martínez, the departing manager of Portugal, commended Cristiano Ronaldo as an 'exemplary captain' following the team's exit from the World Cup. He emphasized Ronaldo's value, stating, 'when you need a goal, you cannot take him off.' Ronaldo's selection has been a topic of discussion since Martínez took charge post-2022 World Cup, especially after his predecessor, Fernando Santos, controversially benched him in a critical match.

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

By the Numbers

•Roberto Martínez leaves Portugal after the World Cup.
•He praised Cristiano Ronaldo as an essential player.
•Portugal's World Cup exit raises questions about the team's future.
•Ronaldo's role in the team has been debated since Martínez's appointment.

Latest Updates

11:33 PMThe Guardian Sport — Martínez has only praise for ’football icon’ Ronaldo after Portugal’s World Cup exit

What they're saying

"
Departing Portugal manager hails ‘exemplary captain’ Martínez: ‘when you need a goal, you cannot take him off’ Since Roberto Martínez became the Portugal manager after the 2022 World Cup, the issue of Cristiano Ronaldo has haunted him. His predecessor, Fernando Santos, had taken the decision to leave Ronaldo out of the last-16 tie against Switzerland in Qatar and was rewarded not only with a 6-1 win, but with a hat-trick for Gonçalo Ramos. Martínez, though, restored Ronaldo to his starting line-up and, despite persistent criticism, kept selecting him. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Jonathan Wilson at Dallas Stadium

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