Overview
- Martinez told ESPN he evaluates every player on current form and commitment and would make difficult selections even involving his captain.
- He described Ronaldo as a positional striker and finisher who still elevates teammates, noting 25 goals in his last 30 Portugal games.
- Portugal open Group K on June 17 in Houston against an inter-confederation play-off winner before facing Uzbekistan in Texas and Colombia in Miami.
- In separate comments to GOAL on January 19, former teammate Kleberson said Ronaldo likely feels compelled to win a World Cup and compared pressures felt by other stars.
- Kleberson also suggested Ronaldo’s conditioning could let him play to 50, while the forward remains Portugal’s captain, holds a record 143 international goals, is contracted to Al-Nassr through 2027, and has indicated 2026 will be his final World Cup.