Ronaldo can play beyond the 2026 World Cup

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has expressed optimism that Cristiano Ronaldo can play beyond the 2026 World Cup.

In a chat with The Guardian, Martínez maintains that Ronaldo earns his place through consistent performance rather than reputation.

“I have always believed that it is the body that decides when a player retires, but in reality it is about the head. Cristiano has not yet made that decision, even though he is 40 or 41 years old.

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“At this level it’s not primarily about talent, but about mentality and the ability to withstand adversity.”

He also emphasizes that many people make the mistake of judging Ronaldo based on earlier periods of his career.

“The biggest mistake is not judging him by how he plays today. After the European Championship, it was said that Portugal did not win because Cristiano played. When we win the Nations League, the discussion will focus on what Portugal will do when Ronaldo retires.”