"Not Ronaldo's last dance?" Martinez makes key statement ahead of clash with Croatia
Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez spoke out ahead of the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match against Croatia, addressing the future of Cristiano Ronaldo in particular.
Details: Portugal will face Croatia on July 3 at BMO Field in Toronto, and Martinez stated: "Let's hope this isn't Ronaldo's last dance."
Martinez emphasized that Portugal heads into the playoffs with confidence in their abilities. According to him, the squad has grown stronger thanks to unity, talent, and determination.
"The World Cup starts tomorrow," said the coach, hinting that for Portugal, the real test begins with the knockout rounds.
Speaking about Croatia, Martinez noted the opponent's technical prowess and the team's skill in possession. He stressed that there won't be any surprises, as both teams know each other well.
The coach also addressed a question about the possible end of the international careers of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric.
"They are icons; it's important to have such role models," Martinez stated.
Reminder: Earlier we reported that Harry Kane joined the exclusive company of Cristiano Ronaldo, becoming only the second player to score 20+ goals combined at World Cups and Euros.
