A debate is brewing over the World Cup 2026 squad, with Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez stating that performance, rather than age, will be the determining factor. At 41, Ronaldo is still in the conversation for the next big event in the USA.
This is a contemporary plan of squad construction, as demonstrated by Martinez’s comments. In his head, he isn’t concerned with reputation, he’s concerned with current form & fitness. That’s crucial because Ronaldo is not your average player. He has also scored the most goals in all competitions for the international football team with 143 goals. But the coach wants to handle him as any other player on the team.
But the question is whether Ronaldo is ready to be part of the team – that’s the bigger one. The game of football has evolved in the past few years. Teams have been reducing their number of substitutions and matches are frequently going into extra time. This has resulted in some new roles within the team, such as players that do well off the bench.
This change is what Martinez pointed out when he said there is now a “starting team” and a “finishing team.” That doesn’t necessarily mean that Ronaldo won’t be starting matches but he could be in to contribute at the right moment. It is a pragmatic approach, particularly in a high pressure match, such as the World Cup.
But, there remains a degree of uncertainty. Ronaldo has been dropped to the bench in an important match during the 2022 World Cup. The move was a controversial one and has led to speculation on what he will do with a smaller part. It is up to the test when it comes to big games, but Martinez feels Ronaldo is willing to go along with team decisions.
With Portugal heading into 2026, any move to play in a more balanced manner with Ronaldo will be crucial for their success.
