Martinez praises Ronaldo and Ramos: 'No other player...'

Portugal's national team coach Roberto Martinez lauded Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos following their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

“

There is no other player in the World Cup who can take penalties as well as Cristiano Ronaldo, and no other striker who has the power and talent to enter the penalty area like Gonçalo Ramos.

Martinez singled out Ronaldo for his exceptional penalty-taking skills, calling him unmatched in this regard. He also praised Gonçalo Ramos, describing him as a forward with the power and talent to penetrate the penalty area. Both players were instrumental in the win, with Ronaldo converting a penalty to equalize and Ramos scoring the decisive goal after coming on as a substitute.

"We have versatile footballers, we have experienced players," Martinez stated, highlighting the team's depth. He pointed to the contributions of Bernardo Silva and Ruben Neves for their experience, and Nelson Semedo and Francisco Conceição for their talent. "We also benefit from the experience of Bernardo Silva and Ruben Neves, the talent of Nelson Semedo and Francisco Conceição. We have other players who can help. The team is committed to teamwork."

“

We have versatile footballers, we have experienced players. We also benefit from the experience of Bernardo Silva and Ruben Neves, the talent of Nelson Semedo and Francisco Conceição. We have other players who can help. The team is committed to teamwork.

Addressing Ramos's role, Martinez stressed the importance of players remaining ready, a key strength of the Portuguese squad. He also noted Joao Félix's strong performance in the tournament. Ramos's match-winning goal against Croatia followed his hat-trick against Switzerland in the 2022 World Cup, underscoring his impact in crucial matches.

“

We have players who need to be ready, and that is where the strength of the Portugal team lies. Joao Félix is also performing well in the tournament.