Ronaldo judged on form not age for Portugal at World Cup, says Martinez

"Ronaldo will play in his fifth World Cup and is the record scorer at international level with 143 goals for Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo is 41, but Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said age is only a number and that his captain is judged on current form and by the same standards as everyone else. Ronaldo could play in a sixth World Cup, with this year's tournament in North America set to begin in less than a month, a staggering possibility even for a player who has twisted football's record books into new shapes."

"Yet Martinez, speaking to the Reuters news agency in Lisbon on Thursday, insisted Portugal were not carrying a monument to past glory. We manage the Cristiano Ronaldo that plays for the national team trying to get into the squad for 2026, not the iconic figure, Martinez said. The debate in Portugal is less about whether Ronaldo, the record scorer in international football with 143 goals, belongs in the squad and more about what his role should be when World Cup margins are razor-thin."

"For Martinez, the calculation is simple. Ronaldo, the player, is assessed on what he does in training and for the team. Age is only a number, Martinez said. Certainly, in the national team, we can measure exactly what's happening on the day, and you make the decisions for the next day. You never look any longer than the next day."

"On the question of how to use Ronaldo at a World Cup where matches swing on substitutions, tactical shifts and games that stretch into extra time and penalties, Martinez argued modern football has moved past treating the starting lineup as the only measure of status. Now we've got five substitutions. It's almost like we've got a starting team and a finishing team. There is no distinction, he said. There are different roles, and Cristiano has always accepted his role."

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in his fifth World Cup and holds the record for international goals for Portugal with 143. At age 41, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said age is not a deciding factor and that Ronaldo is evaluated by the same standards as everyone else. Martinez emphasized that Portugal are managing the Ronaldo who plays for the national team, focused on squad selection for 2026 rather than past achievements. The main question is not whether Ronaldo belongs, but what role he should have in tight World Cup matches. Martinez argued modern football uses five substitutions and flexible roles, so status is not determined only by the starting lineup. He said decisions are made based on what happens day to day in training and team performance.

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