Manager Roberto Martinez shared his thoughts on why he still relies on 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo to deliver for Portugal in crucial matches. Ronaldo's position as a starter was uncertain during the last days of former coach Fernando Santos, and he even found himself on the bench during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, since Martinez took over, Ronaldo has been brought back into a key attacking role.

Since joining Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has been in fantastic form. The veteran forward has also made it clear that he wants to play for Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aiming to fulfill his dream of winning that prestigious trophy.

Martinez praised Ronaldo's skills, emphasizing that his experience is invaluable to the Portuguese squad.

“When I assess a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, I consider three main factors. His talent is beyond question; he’s among the greatest in football history. His experience is also unmatched: he’s the only player to have participated in six European Championships and has over 200 international appearances,” Martinez explained to the Coaches Voice.

Cristiano Ronaldo's dedication really shines through

Martinez was the head coach of Belgium before stepping into the role with Portugal, where he analyzed what keeps Ronaldo shining even at 40.

“What really stands out is his dedication. His love for representing Portugal is infectious and inspires the whole team. He’s not here just for his past achievements, but for what he still brings to the table: he’s the top scorer with 17 goals in the 21 matches we've played over the last two years,” he mentioned.

Recently, Ronaldo scored as Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia defeated Iran's Esteghlal 3-0, moving on to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday.

Despite joining Al-Nassr in December 2022, Ronaldo has yet to secure a trophy with the Riyadh club and missed the first leg of the round of 16 tie in Tehran, which ended in a 0-0 draw last week.

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