Ronaldo Still Strong Enough for 2030 World Cup, Says Portugal Coach

Portugal's national team coach, Roberto Martinez, expressed his belief that Cristiano Ronaldo remains capable of competing in the 2030 World Cup, even at the age of 45. Portugal is scheduled to co-host the tournament with Spain and Morocco. Martinez highlighted Ronaldo's extraordinary mentality as the primary reason for his continued success at the highest level of the sport. He noted that unlike many other great players who lose motivation after achieving major accolades like the Champions League or Ballon d'Or, Ronaldo maintains a distinct drive. "No one should doubt Ronaldo's ability because he has proven it all this time," Martinez stated. "I have worked with many great players who won the Champions League or Ballon d'Or, but they lost motivation afterward, whereas Ronaldo is very different." Ronaldo, who debuted for Portugal in 2003 at 18, is the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 226 appearances and 143 goals. He was instrumental in Portugal's Euro 2016 victory and became the first player to score in five different World Cup editions after converting a penalty against Ghana in 2022. Martinez also attributed Ronaldo's longevity to his high level of discipline, genetics, and rigorous physical conditioning, which allow him to compete effectively against much younger players.

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No one should doubt Ronaldo's ability because he has proven it all this time. I have worked with many great players who won the Champions League or Ballon d’Or, but they lost motivation afterward, whereas Ronaldo is very different.