Martínez Departs Portugal
Roberto Martínez Steps Down as Portugal Manager Following World Cup Exit to Spain
Key Points
Martínez said, 'I came to Portugal to win the World Cup, and I think that, without winning it, there’s no point in continuing. The board and the president now have the opportunity to choose the new manager… my contract ends today.'
He defended not substituting Cristiano Ronaldo, arguing Ronaldo was fully fit for 90 minutes and 'creates space, adapts to situations'; the plan was to stop Spain’s attackers, and it wouldn’t have been sensible to take forwards off. He also noted that Goncalo Ramos might have been considered in extra time, but that wasn’t the strategy today.
Martínez paid tribute to Ronaldo as captain, calling him 'exemplary' and stressing that 'not just in terms of goals — the statistics speak for themselves' but also in terms of assists and leadership.
Portugal’s World Cup path included a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan in the group stage, draws with DR Congo and Colombia, a 2-1 Round of 32 win over Croatia, and a 1-0 exit to Spain in the last 16, underscoring a tournament of narrow margins.
Martínez’s Portugal tenure consisted of 45 matches, including lifting the UEFA Nations League title in 2025, and he framed the World Cup exit as the end of a cycle after starting in 2023 following his stint with Belgium.
Roberto Martínez has stepped down as Portugal manager after a 1-0 World Cup defeat to Spain ended his side's tournament in the round of 16. The Spaniard confirmed his exit immediately after the match, saying his contract expired the same day. Metro reported his parting words were blunt: "I came to Portugal to win the World Cup, and I think that, without winning it, there's no point in continuing."
Martínez took charge of Portugal in 2023 after leaving Belgium. Over 45 matches, he guided the side to the UEFA Nations League title in 2025 before an early exit at this World Cup. The Portuguese football board must now find his replacement.
A World Cup Campaign of Narrow Margins and One Costly Exit
Portugal's path through the tournament was far from smooth. They opened with a 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan but then drew with both DR Congo and Colombia in the group stage. A 2-1 win over Croatia in the round of 32 set up the Spain clash. One goal was enough to end it all.
The 1-0 loss to Spain stung because Portugal never quite found their best form. Yahoo Sports noted that despite having "one of the best squads in the world," Martínez's side only narrowly made it through each stage. The margin for error at a World Cup, he now knows, is razor thin.
Why Martínez Kept Ronaldo on the Pitch Against Spain
One decision drew immediate scrutiny: keeping Cristiano Ronaldo on for the full 90 minutes. Martínez pushed back hard on the criticism. Metro reported he argued Ronaldo "was fully fit" and that he "creates space, adapts to situations." Removing a forward, he said, would have gone against his strategy of stopping Spain's attackers.
Martínez did admit Goncalo Ramos could have been introduced in extra time, but Portugal never got there. The game ended in normal time. His core point stood: the plan was defensive, and taking off a forward made no tactical sense within that setup.
Martínez Praises Ronaldo as 'Exemplary' Captain and Leader
Martínez used his post-match remarks to defend Ronaldo's wider contribution. He called the captain "exemplary" and stressed it was "not just in terms of goals." The assists, the leadership, the standards he set in training — Martínez insisted all of it mattered. Ronaldo, now deep into his 30s, remains central to how Portugal play and think.
Whether Ronaldo continues under a new manager is now the biggest question in Portuguese football. Yahoo Sports noted that a former coach of Ronaldo's has already emerged as a likely candidate to take over. The board must move quickly ahead of the next international cycle.
End of a Cycle: What Martínez's Tenure Left Behind
Martínez framed his exit as the close of a chapter rather than a failure. He lifted the Nations League trophy in 2025. He won more than he lost across 45 games. But the World Cup was always the goal, and he said so plainly. Without that, staying made no sense to him.
He thanked the players, staff, and Portuguese football leadership before walking away. The board now holds full control of the next appointment. For Portugal, a squad still packed with talent, the priority is clear: find a manager who can finally deliver a World Cup.
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