Why is Ronaldo still irreplaceable in the Portugal national team?

Coach Roberto Martinez emphasizes that Ronaldo's mindset and competitive spirit are crucial factors that make this forward irreplaceable and a pillar of the Portugal squad at age 40.

At this moment, Ronaldo is still driven by ambition to reach new heights. The Portuguese striker remains an essential figure for the national team despite debates about his age. According to coach Roberto Martinez, he highly values the qualities Ronaldo brings.

Specifically, Martinez stated: "Ronaldo’s attitude is what sets him apart. We continuously analyze three pillars: talent, experience, and the attitude he brings to the national team at any time. The highest standards he demands from himself always earn admiration, and his dedication is why Ronaldo consistently makes the squad.

His desire to be the best is contagious. Scoring 25 goals in 30 matches as a forward shows how much he contributes on the pitch for the national team. To win the World Cup or EURO, you still need players like him."

He also added that building stability for the Portugal team is very important. That is why he regularly selects the same players for each international call-up, but the list is never "closed": "At the national team level, you only have three days to prepare for a match. Therefore, changing all 23 players in every lineup is not reasonable because you lose the core elements.

We have maintained unity among very experienced players who love being part of the national team, such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, Ruben Dias, Cristiano Ronaldo... Moreover, we have been able to pave the way for young talents to come in and help the team win, like Vitinha, Joao Neves, Chico Conceicao, Pedro Neto, Renato Veiga...

Youth football in Portugal is truly remarkable and serves as a model for other countries. I always want to emphasize this. Despite having only 11 million people, we manage to produce 3-4 top players every year. That’s a difference you won’t find elsewhere."