Roberto Martinez told the squad that portugal foot will continue to revolve around Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal prepares for a Tuesday friendly in the United States (ET). Martinez, Portugal’s coach, said he expects Ronaldo to be at the World Cup and stressed the captain’s leadership and finishing despite the current hamstring layoff. The remarks come after a 0-0 draw with Mexico and as Martinez laid out injury timelines and the team’s wider tournament preparations.
Portugal Foot: Martinez on Ronaldo’s mindset and injury timeline
Martinez left little doubt about Ronaldo’s ongoing influence: “It’s difficult to say, with Ronaldo, I learned not to predict the future, ” he said, underlining how the captain’s mentality shapes the group. Martinez added: “He tries to be the best today. He has a muscle injury; he may be able to return to training within a week. Nelson Semedo and Ruben Dias are also out. “
The coach identified Ronaldo as a central stimulus both on and off the field: “He is our captain and is very important, very influential. He still plays a fundamental role as captain. The way he finishes, his mentality, he inspires. I don’t know when the end will come. ” Martinez highlighted recent output as evidence of form, calling Ronaldo “a striker who has scored 25 goals in the last 30 games, ” and noting his status as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer with 143 goals.
Martinez framed the immediate challenge calmly: “Like any player, a lot can happen before you get to the World Cup, injuries, periods of poor form. Now it’s about staying calm. The team is made strong with the players who will compete in the event. ” The coach expects the group to perform with or without their talisman but made clear Ronaldo’s role remains central to selection and morale.
Prep plan, “red flags” and what comes next
Martinez has used recent friendlies as practical rehearsals. He said the Mexico match and the upcoming U. S. friendly were designed to expose the squad to unique World Cup conditions and logistical challenges: he said the experience “it really alerted me to many red flags. ” Martinez explained that the March schedule was “the only opportunity that we have to play Concacaf teams, ” and that staging matches in different environments helps the team adapt.
He stressed the value of on-the-ground preparation: “The more moments that we can spend on the ground, in the areas that we’re gonna be, the better. ” Martinez detailed player-care measures aimed at peak performance: every player will receive “seven days off at the end of their season, ” because “it’s incredible, the mental fatigue that you accumulate. ” He recommended a short break to “just try to get a period on the beach, switch off. “
On the human side of tournament planning, Martinez warned of the strain of long absences from home: “We’re talking about managing a player being away from their family for 50 days. ” He framed player welfare as integral to success: “Helping players manage that burden, ” he said, “is winning a World Cup; that’s where the work is. “
Martinez has set a clear immediate roadmap: manage Ronaldo’s recovery, assess squad availability after the warm-up fixtures, and use the U. S. friendly on Tuesday (ET) as a live test of the adaptations he’s described. The coach reiterated his expectation that Ronaldo will travel to the finals, even as he cautioned that only time — and careful management — will tell how the campaign unfolds for portugal foot.
