“I will make hard decisions” — Portugal boss Martinez opens up on benching Ronaldo at 2026 World Cup

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has sent a clear message about team priorities ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting he is prepared to make tough calls, even on captain Cristiano Ronaldo, as the tournament approaches.

In a recent interview, Martínez was directly asked if he would be willing to bench the 40-year-old superstar if it meant the team performed better, and how he anticipated Ronaldo might react to such a decision.

His reply emphasised his willingness to put the team ahead of any individual, in service of winning the World Cup.

“This is part of my job. I’ve been in my position for three years, and the most important thing is the team’s success and being stronger than the opponent, so making tough decisions is part of our work.

"This is my responsibility, and it’s also the responsibility of the coaching staff."

Martínez dismissed suggestions that his long tenure made such calls harder.

“I don’t think I joined the Portuguese national team today... what matters to me is the players’ spirit and creating a high-performance, highly competitive environment. For the captain and the other players, this is what we have achieved.”

While Martínez praised Ronaldo’s incredible scoring record, 25 goals in his last 30 international games, he stressed that reputation will not outweigh performance.

The strong message from this is that everyone must earn their place, even Portugal's inspirational leader and captain.