Portugal Manager: Cristiano Ronaldo Isn’t a Guaranteed World Cup Starter

Ronaldo’s role: selected, but not untouchable

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has indicated that Cristiano Ronaldo will have to contend with increased competition for places as the national team builds toward the 2026 World Cup. While Ronaldo remains captain and a central figure in the squad, Martinez’s comments suggest that selection and minutes will be shaped by form, fitness, and the tactical demands of a tournament expected to test teams physically and psychologically.

Ronaldo will be 40 during this phase of preparation and is expected to be part of the World Cup plan, provided he avoids injury. However, Martinez has not framed his role as one that guarantees playing every minute of every match. Instead, the coach is looking at how best to manage a veteran forward in the latter stages of a record-setting career while maintaining the competitiveness of the squad.

The overall message is clear: Ronaldo remains important, but Portugal’s approach is built around depth, flexibility, and the realities of tournament football.

A three-striker plan and competition for places

Martinez has explained that he is planning to take three strikers to the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In that framework, Ronaldo is expected to be one of the options, assuming he stays healthy. Another striker spot is expected to be filled by Paris Saint-Germain forward Gonçalo Ramos, who previously stepped in when Ronaldo was benched at the 2022 World Cup.

The third striker position is a key part of the manager’s thinking. Martinez described the national team environment as highly competitive and suggested that, while the door to the squad is open, earning a place is difficult because of the level of competition. He also emphasized that Portugal believes a third striker will be important for the World Cup, signaling that the staff is planning for a range of match scenarios rather than relying on a single forward for extended minutes.

That approach reflects both squad-building and match management. A tournament can require different profiles depending on the opponent, game state, and physical conditions. Martinez’s comments point to a selection strategy designed to reduce risk and increase tactical options.

Managing a veteran star in demanding conditions

Ronaldo is described as reluctant to take backward steps or accept a support role, but Martinez’s planning indicates that careful management will be necessary. The expectation is not that Ronaldo will be removed from the picture; rather, that his minutes and usage may be shaped by the broader needs of the team across a demanding schedule.

Martinez also referenced the physical challenges that can define major tournaments. With high temperatures predicted for a major international tournament setting, he is eager to ensure Portugal is not left short in an important area of the field. That concern is closely tied to the decision to prioritize striker depth and to prepare in conditions that may resemble those faced during the World Cup.

In practical terms, this kind of planning can mean rotating players, selecting different types of forwards for different opponents, and ensuring that the squad can maintain intensity across the group stage and beyond.

Martinez: Ronaldo’s status doesn’t dictate the work

When asked about the previous World Cup and Fernando Santos’ decision to rotate Ronaldo out of the starting lineup, Martinez addressed the wider attention that surrounds Portugal’s most famous player. He described what happens around Ronaldo as a “historical aspect” and acknowledged his status as a global icon. At the same time, Martinez emphasized that this does not condition or limit the staff’s work.

Martinez also portrayed Ronaldo as calm and focused on day-to-day routines, describing that mindset as a “simple formula.” He added that when Ronaldo is doing well, it is very important for the national team. The implication is that Portugal’s approach is not about diminishing Ronaldo’s role, but about ensuring the team’s decisions remain performance-led and aligned with tournament realities.

This balance—respecting a player’s stature while maintaining competitive standards—can be delicate in international football. Martinez’s framing suggests he wants to keep the environment focused on preparation, roles, and results rather than narratives.

Confidence after Nations League success and World Cup qualification

Portugal head into the cycle with momentum, having won the 2025 UEFA Nations League and secured automatic qualification for the World Cup. Those achievements provide a platform for building confidence and clarity, but Martinez’s comments also underline that qualification and recent trophies do not remove the need for careful preparation.

As the team looks ahead, the staff appear focused on using the available windows to test profiles, refine systems, and ensure players are comfortable in the conditions they may face at the finals.

Why March friendlies in Mexico and the USA matter

Portugal have arranged pre-tournament friendlies, including fixtures in Mexico and the United States in March. Martinez highlighted the importance of those matches as part of a broader preparation plan. He said the March stage will be very important for assessing different player profiles and for building readiness for the specific challenges that European teams can face at a World Cup hosted in North America.

Martinez described the 2026 tournament as complex and demanding for European sides, and he outlined why the March camp is especially useful. Portugal plan to play at altitude in Mexico and then play the USA in an indoor stadium. The idea, as he explained, is to experience those conditions before the World Cup, making the camp a form of targeted preparation rather than a routine set of friendlies.

These details show how the coaching staff is thinking beyond opponents and focusing on environments. Altitude and indoor conditions can influence tempo, fatigue, and recovery, and Martinez’s comments indicate Portugal want to reduce uncertainty by experiencing these variables ahead of time.

Lessons from Martinez’s previous World Cups

Martinez has previously led Belgium in World Cup campaigns and described the 2026 tournament as his third World Cup. Drawing on that experience, he stressed that no team arrives as a champion. Instead, he believes teams must grow through the first three games and do everything possible to keep players comfortable throughout the tournament.

This viewpoint places emphasis on progression rather than perfection from the start. In a group stage, early matches can set the tone, but Martinez’s approach suggests he values steady development, adaptation, and psychological readiness as much as tactical planning.

He also spoke about Portugal’s relationship with World Cups, saying the team does not have a history in the competition and that this reality is part of the psychological preparation. His stated objective is to take things step by step and help players believe Portugal can truly win the World Cup.

Contract timeline and focus on the 2026 finals

Martinez’s contract is due to expire when the 2026 finals end, but he has said he is not focused on his long-term future. Instead, he described his attention as being firmly on the World Cup, adding that he is happy with the work being done and with the support from the federation.

He framed the project as a collective effort and reiterated that the goal is the 2026 World Cup, with discussions about the future to come afterward. Martinez also said he loves Portugal and enjoys working with the national team, describing his job and focus as making history so that the achievements are remembered for many years.

Portugal’s group and opening match scenario

Portugal have been placed in Group K at the 2026 World Cup, with matches staged between Houston and Miami. They are scheduled to open their campaign against the winners of the intercontinental play-off, with Jamaica, New Caledonia, or the Democratic Republic of Congo listed as possible opponents. Portugal will then face Uzbekistan and Colombia in the group.

The group-stage setup adds another layer to the squad-building conversation. A tournament path that includes varied opponents can demand different approaches, and Martinez’s emphasis on striker depth and preparation conditions aligns with the need to be adaptable from match to match.

What Martinez’s comments mean for Portugal’s attacking picture

Martinez’s remarks do not remove Ronaldo from Portugal’s plans; instead, they place him within a competitive structure. Ronaldo is expected to be included if fit, and the coach has emphasized his importance when performing well. At the same time, the plan to take three strikers, the expectation that Gonçalo Ramos will be among them, and the explicit desire to add a third forward option all point to a broader strategy: Portugal want multiple solutions in the most decisive area of the pitch.

For a team with recent success and clear ambition, the key themes are competition, careful management, and preparation tailored to the conditions of the 2026 World Cup. Whether that results in Ronaldo starting every match or sharing minutes, Martinez’s approach suggests Portugal are building a squad designed to handle the full demands of a complex tournament.

Key points at a glance

• Roberto Martinez says Cristiano Ronaldo will face increased competition for places at the 2026 World Cup.
• Portugal plan to take three strikers; Ronaldo is expected to be one if he avoids injury.
• Gonçalo Ramos is expected to fill another striker spot after previously replacing Ronaldo in 2022.
• Martinez wants a third striker option and stresses the competitiveness of national-team selection.
• Portugal will use March friendlies in Mexico and the USA to prepare for altitude and indoor-stadium conditions.
• Martinez says no team arrives as champion and emphasizes growth through the first three matches.
• Portugal are in Group K and will open against the intercontinental play-off winner before facing Uzbekistan and Colombia.