Martinez Says Ronaldo's Mind, Not Body, Will Decide When He Retires

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has offered his most direct explanation yet of what will ultimately end Cristiano Ronaldo’s career, insisting the decision will come from the 41-year-old’s own psychology rather than any physical limitation, with the 2026 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup now fewer than 80 days away.

Speaking to The Guardian in an interview published over the weekend, Martinez argued that public assessments of Ronaldo were consistently wrong because critics were judging the player he once was rather than the one currently pulling on the Portugal shirt. “The biggest error people make is not analysing him today. After the Euros it was: ‘Portugal didn’t win because Cristiano is playing.’ We win the Nations League and it is: ‘What will Portugal do when Ronaldo retires?'” the coach said.

Martinez framed his understanding of retirement not as a physical threshold but as a mental one. “I always thought it was the body that retires a player, but it’s the head. Cristiano’s head hasn’t taken that decision at 40, 41. An elite player is not the talent, it is the mentality, the resilience,” he said.

The timing of the interview adds layers to what might otherwise read as routine manager loyalty. Ronaldo sustained a hamstring injury on February 28 and sat out Portugal’s recent friendly against Mexico, with Martinez conceding in a separate interview that no one could guarantee the forward’s availability for the World Cup. Portugal drew 0-0 with Mexico at Estadio Azteca in a match in which Ronaldo’s absence was widely noted.

The forward is, however, expected to be fit for the tournament itself. Martinez has emphasized that Ronaldo’s place in the squad is not sentimental. “A player that has scored 25 goals in his last 30 international games is not playing because of what he has done in the past; it is what he is doing now,” the coach said.

Ronaldo has scored 17 goals in 18 Saudi Pro League matches for Al Nassr this season and holds a contract with the club through June 2027, with reports suggesting he may continue playing beyond that date regardless of whether he has reached the milestone of 1,000 career goals. Portugal open their World Cup campaign against DR Congo or Jamaica on June 17.

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