Cristiano Ronaldo: Martinez highlights the Portuguese star's hunger to be the best

Roberto Martínez highlights Cristiano Ronaldo’s constant ambition

Portugal manager Roberto Martínez has praised Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless ambition to “be the best.” Ronaldo, at 40 years old, scored two goals in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Armenia in the UEFA World Cup qualifier on Saturday, extending his record to 140 goals with the Portuguese national team.

“Live day by day like a young player playing for the first time,” Martinez said about Ronaldo before Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Hungary.
Roberto Martinez

“The way he dedicates himself, the freshness he has every day. He is a winner. He is hungry to be the best.”

Ronaldo reaches 140 goals with Portugal

Ronaldo has given no indication of when he will retire from international football. He recently signed a new contract with Al Nassr that will keep him in the Saudi Professional League until June 2027, while he led Portugal to victory in the UEFA Nations League in June. The Manchester United and Real Madrid star has scored more than 900 goals in his career. Winner of five Ballon d’Or awards, Ronaldo has maintained that level of performance, scoring 25 goals in the league last season for Al Nassr, finishing for the second consecutive campaign as the top scorer in the Saudi Professional League. The 2026 World Cup will be Ronaldo’s last chance to get the only major trophy that eludes him.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal's win over Armenia. — Cristiano Ronaldo anotó dos goles en la victoria de Portugal sobre Armenia. Hrach Khachatryan/ MB Media/Getty Images

“The World Cup? It’s doing the best it can, it has no long-term goals,” Martinez said of Ronaldo. “He wants to be the best every day. His focus is on a day-to-day basis.”
Roberto Martinez

Martínez said that Ronaldo, who also captained Portugal to the 2016 European Championship title and the 2019 Nations League trophy, continues to be an inspiration to his teammates. “I’ve already talked a lot about what it conveys, but these aren’t aspects of the future, they’re aspects of everyday life,” he said. “What it means to wear the Portugal shirt is the captain’s message in the locker room; it helps a lot.”