Portuguese Coach Reacts to Ronaldo's Statement That the World Cup Is Not Important

Portugal's head coach, Roberto Martinez, addressed questions regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s remark that “a World Cup title will not define his legacy.”

The Portuguese coach stated he preferred not to comment on Cristiano Ronaldo’s viewpoint concerning the World Cup. Instead, he praised his captain for his outstanding performances on the field and emphasized that the 40-year-old striker is fully focused on the upcoming qualifying matches.

Speaking to the media, Roberto Martinez affirmed that Ronaldo remains a role model for the entire team and that all his opinions are respected. However, when asked about the statement “the World Cup does not define my career,” the Spanish coach declined to comment.

He said (quoted by The Nassr Zone): “It’s always great to hear from the captain, as no other player has earned over 200 caps for the national team. Cristiano Ronaldo is an example for the whole squad, showing dedication every time he steps onto the pitch. Right now, he is fully focused on securing qualification in the November matches.

Apart from that, we just want to concentrate on earning a spot in the tournament. In the September camp, we gained 6 points, and added 4 more in October, which is a good result, but the team needs to push harder in the next two games.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in the squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Ireland and Armenia. A few days earlier, the Al Nassr superstar gave an interview with Piers Morgan, where he stated that winning the World Cup is not his dream. Ronaldo believes a short tournament cannot define an entire career and stressed that he is focused on enjoying every moment wearing the national team jersey.

He shared: “If you ask me, ‘Cristiano, is winning the World Cup your dream?’ my answer is no. Even if I win the World Cup, it won’t change my standing in football history. I just want to enjoy the present moment because that’s what matters most. We haven’t qualified yet, and I want to live every minute fully.”

“In my mind, I don’t think that way. Of course, when playing, everyone wants to win, but for me, winning the World Cup won’t change how I see things.”

To date, Cristiano Ronaldo’s best World Cup achievement was reaching the semifinals in 2006 (where they lost to France). With the Portuguese national team, he has won three major titles, including EURO 2016 and two UEFA Nations League trophies..

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