Portugal manager Roberto Martínez attributes Cristiano Ronaldo‘s continued success-and ongoing role as team captain-to a strategic shift in the veteran forward’s positioning on the pitch. In a new interview with *Marca*, Martínez details how adapting Ronaldo from a traditional winger to a central striker has not only extended his career but also bolstered the team’s offensive capabilities, evidenced by 25 goals in 30 recent appearances[2]. The interview also addresses the national team’s ongoing grief following the passing of player Diogo Jota.
Portugal Coach Credits Ronaldo’s Positional Shift as Key to Longevity
Roberto Martínez, head coach of the Portugal national team, highlighted a strategic shift in Cristiano Ronaldo’s role as a major factor in the veteran forward’s continued success as he prepares for his sixth World Cup.
Speaking with Marca, Martínez discussed Ronaldo’s enduring presence as a starter and captain for the Portuguese squad. He emphasized three core attributes: “There are three pillars that we constantly analyze: talent, experience, and the attitude he can bring to the Seleçao. That maximum demand he has on himself to be present and help is what allows the national team captain to always be on the list of call-ups.”
“That hunger to be the best is contagious on the field. 25 goals in 30 games playing as a number 9 demonstrates that what he does on the pitch generates a lot for the team,” added the former Belgium manager.
Martínez also argued that evolving Ronaldo’s position from a winger to a central striker has significantly extended his career. “We are talking about a player who started as a very skillful winger and is now more of a reference point inside the area. We see it: Cristiano conditions the opponent. When he is on the field, another space opens up because two players will be focused on marking him.”
Martínez expressed confidence that Ronaldo, with 955 career goals, will surpass the 1000-goal milestone before retiring. “He is at a very good moment in his career. And he has achieved it because he lives day by day. When he talks about his goals, he moves away from the long term – reaching 1000, playing a certain number of games… His secret is to be the best today and enjoy the day to day. So the number will be a consequence of the day he decides to finish. I don’t think it’s an objective.”
Coping with the Tragedy of Diogo Jota
The interview also addressed the difficult subject of the passing of Diogo Jota and its impact on the Portuguese national team, given his importance as a key player and expected member of next year’s World Cup roster. “It was a tragedy at a human level, a societal tragedy that transcends sport. It is managed naturally, respecting that we all have to go through grief in a different way. In our case, the locker room managed it with a sense of responsibility. Diogo was a source of positivity, always prepared to fight. And a virtuoso: he brought intensity, versatility, he had a goal-scoring touch… He was a player who cannot be replaced by anyone.”
“We carry Diogo with us as another force. He is that light that reminds us that we have to give everything and enjoy because there are things we cannot control,” Martínez said of the former Wolverhampton and Liverpool player, who missed the World Cup in Qatar due to injury.
Martínez also spoke fondly of his personal relationship with Jota: “He was very close and always had that desire to connect with the community. He had his football school in his town. He was one of the great ambassadors of football eSports. He was very human within the dressing room. He had contact with everyone. They adored him.”
