Martínez: Portuga as strong as Germany, Spain, France; Ronaldo is a leader

In an exclusive interview with Portuguese public broadcaster RTP, Portugal national team head coach Roberto Martínez stated: “Portugal has the same level of talent as Germany, Spain, and France. Cristiano Ronaldo is the leader in the dressing room.”

Martínez reiterated his ambition to win the UEFA Nations League:

“We must show a sense of responsibility. For Portugal, qualifying for the World Cup and European Championship finals is the bare minimum. The Nations League is a tournament we aim to win. Titles at the national team level are rare—victory is always the highest priority.”

Speaking about preparations for the World Cup, Martínez emphasized the importance of the Nations League semi-finals:

“This is a special moment. Germany is the perfect opponent to help us prepare for the World Cup. We are on equal footing with the other finalists—Germany, Spain, and France—in terms of talent.”

When asked about Ronaldo’s role, Martínez praised the captain:

“He is the only player with over 200 international caps. As an individual, he shows exemplary dedication and is always ready to help younger teammates. He’s the leader in the dressing room. Even when he’s not starting, he contributes from the bench. My decisions will always be based on what’s best for the team.”