Coach of Portugal. Taxi drivers talk about Ronaldo without checking his level

The head coach of the Portuguese national team, Roberto Martinez, said that Cristiano Ronaldo’s 41st birthday is “just a number”, stressing that the assessment of the captain of the team depends on his current level.

Despite this, Martinez emphasized during an interview with Reuters that the national team does not live on the glory of the past.

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“We are dealing with Cristiano Ronaldo as a player striving for a place in the 2026 World Cup roster, and not as a historical symbol. Age is just a number. In the national team, we evaluate what is happening every day and make decisions based on the present, not looking beyond the next game.”

Regarding the use of Ronaldo, given the nature of modern football, which is characterized by many substitutions and tactical changes, the Spanish coach stated:

There is still controversy over how ready Ronaldo is to play a lesser role since the 2022 World Cup, when former coach Fernando Santos left him out of the starting line-up against Switzerland.

But Martinez rejected the comparisons, noting that the context is changing, while merit remains the determining factor.

He added: “All players are equal in the team. Whoever performs his role perfectly and contributes to the team’s victory, he has a better chance to play. It’s very simple.”

Inferior mentality

“He is an exceptional player in his movement, runs, open spaces and penetrating defenses. He has great discipline in his positions and executes attacking ideas with precision, which allows him to score and at the same time creates spaces for his teammates.”

Martinez stressed that the discussion about Ronaldo should start from performance and data, not the age factor, noting that his continuity is based on a “high-level mentality” and a desire to continuously develop.

“A player who has won everything has the same motivation as one who has yet to win any titles… This passion makes Ronaldo a key element in the dressing room and a leader who embodies what it means to represent the national team.”

Martinez realizes that the controversies around Ronaldo will not stop, saying: “Every taxi driver has an opinion about him, even without checking his latest level… My job is to analyze the data and select the team. Players always participate on merit and that is the only criterion.”