Roberto Martinez Secures Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal's 2026 World Cup

Roberto Martinez said Cristiano Ronaldo's place in Portugal's 2026 World Cup squad is not negotiable, ending any doubt about whether the forward will be on the list. Ronaldo would be 41 at the tournament, but Martínez tied the decision to a player he said keeps pushing himself every morning.

Ronaldo's Place in Portugal

"La presencia de Cristiano Ronaldo en la lista de Portugal no es negociable, incluso a los 41 años. Nunca he trabajado con un jugador que tenga este nivel de deseo de evolucionar cada mañana" — Roberto Martínez. That line leaves Portugal with a clear answer on its captain’s status before the tournament begins.

Ronaldo remains central to the roster discussion because of the scale of his Portugal record. He has made 226 appearances and scored 143 goals for the national team, numbers that still define the side even as the next World Cup approaches.

Ronaldo's Current Form

At club level, Ronaldo has kept producing for Al-Nassr, scoring 25 goals in 26 Saudi Pro League matches this season. Al-Nassr leads the Saudi Pro League by five points over Al-Hilal, and the team is also set for a May 17 meeting with Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final.

Those totals explain why Martínez has little room to treat the 2026 decision as a debate. Ronaldo has already won a UEFA Nations League and a Eurocopa with Portugal, and his scoring rate for Al-Nassr shows he is still contributing in front of goal while the World Cup cycle moves closer.

Portugal Group K Schedule

Portugal has a clear path into the tournament after being drawn into Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The schedule opens on June 17 against the Democratic Republic of the Congo at NRG Stadium in Houston, continues against Uzbekistan on June 23 at the same venue, and ends group play against Colombia on June 27 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

For Portugal, Martínez's decision removes one roster question before the group-stage calendar arrives. For Ronaldo, it points to another major tournament on a team built around his goal record, his appearances total and the expectation that he will still be part of the squad when the 2026 World Cup starts.