Roberto Martínez has revealed what the real reason behind the Portuguese star's decision will be.
Cristiano Ronaldo's unfortunate injury, sustained on February 28 during the Al Nassr vs. Al Fayha match, has kept him off the field. He not only missed the matches against NEOM SC and Al-Khaleej, but also Portugal's World Cup warm-up friendlies against Mexico (0-0) and the USMNT (to be played on the 31st at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta).
At 41 years old and with 75 days to go before the World Cup kicks off, doubts about his availability for the tournament have worried fans, but there has also been talk of his retirement. Now, Roberto Martínez has revealed what the real reason behind the Portuguese star's decision will be.
What will lead CR7 to retire?
Portugal's coach had to reshuffle his squad after the team captain suffered a hamstring injury in late February. To avoid risking a more serious injury, he and the Al Nassr coaching staff decided to sit him out of the friendlies leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Mexico and the USA.
Despite this, all signs point to Cristiano Ronaldo being around for a while. According to reports, he is set to play on April 3 in Al Nassr's match against Al-Najma SC in the Saudi Pro League and is ready to compete in his sixth World Cup.
His strong, competitive mindset, leadership, attitude, constant physical and mental work, and professionalism are what have enabled him to overcome not only this injury but every obstacle in his career, establishing him as one of the most outstanding players of this century. This has not gone unnoticed by fans, and certainly not by Martínez, who witnessed his mindset firsthand when he took on his role as coach.
"When I visited Ronaldo, I wanted to know how he felt. Players over 30 start to think that maybe the international break is a moment to breathe, to regenerate. But Ronaldo's attitude is always: 'I'm here for the national team, whatever you need,'" Martínez recalled in statements to The Guardian.
Despite the approaching end, this attitude leads the 52-year-old coach to avoid setting a specific date for the Portuguese star's retirement. In fact, he has noted that his career could extend "indefinitely" if he maintains his physical condition and motivation, but that fans need to learn to distinguish the different stages of his career:
"Everyone has an opinion, but it's based on a perception of Ronaldo—a specific period of his career. The biggest mistake people make is not analyzing him today. After the Euros, it was: 'Portugal didn't win because Cristiano is playing.' We win the Nations League, and it's: 'What will Portugal do when Ronaldo retires?'," he said.
"I always thought it was the body that retires a player, but it's the mind. Cristiano's mind hasn't made that decision at 40 or 41. An elite player isn't defined by talent; it's about mentality and resilience," he added.
Meanwhile, following a 0-0 draw against Mexico at the reopening of Azteca Stadium (Banorte), Portugal will face the USMNT on Tuesday, March 31, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Once at the World Cup, CR7 and Portugal will face Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the winner of the intercontinental playoff between Jamaica and the Republic of the Congo in Group K. On Wednesday, June 17, Portugal will play their first match against the playoff winner. On Tuesday, June 23, they will face Uzbekistan, and on Saturday, June 27, Colombia.
This will be Cristiano's sixth and final World Cup; he confirmed last November that he does not expect to play in another tournament (he will be 45 by then). Similarly, according to Martínez, the end of his career will not come when the calendar dictates, but when the player himself believes the time is right.
