Outburst after the collapse! Portugal legend slams Martínez after World Cup exit
Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
Former Portugal midfielder Ricardo Quaresma delivered a scathing critique of Roberto Martínez following the defeat to Spain in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.
Details: Portugal lost 0-1 to Spain and crashed out of the tournament, prompting Quaresma to declare that the team "failed from start to finish."
Quaresma pointed out that Spain completely dominated the game: controlling the tempo, calmly accelerating and slowing down, while Portugal, in his words, looked sluggish, joyless, and lacking genuine desire.
The former player was especially harsh on Martínez. He stated that since the coach's arrival, he hadn't seen a single outstanding match from the Portuguese national team.
"He tried 50 tactics, and not a single one worked," Quaresma said, adding that talk of the "best Portugal squad of all time" now sounds bizarre.
He also posed a direct question: the best in what, if the team won nothing at this World Cup? Martínez has managed the team since 2023 and previously led them to victory in the 2024/25 Nations League.
Recall: Earlier we reported that Ronaldo sets bizarre anti-record at World Cups
