Cristiano Ronaldo speaks on Portugal next coach as Martinez leaves

Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, has addressed the topic of the next manager for the national team following their exit from the 2026 World Cup.

Portugal faced a 1-0 loss to Spain in the Round of Sixteen of the tournament, marking Ronaldo’s final appearance for the national team.

Nevertheless, the Al Nassr forward refrained from commenting on the potential appointment of Jorge Jesus, the former coach of his club, as the next manager of Portugal.

He has entrusted this decision to President Pedro Proença, while also indicating that it is not the appropriate moment to discuss it.

In a media interaction, Ronaldo expressed his reluctance to engage in conversations about the future manager of Portugal after Roberto Martinez announced his departure.

He said that the decision was not on his shoulders, saying, “These decisions are not made by me. The president will make the decision he wants. It’s not the right time to talk about it.”

Martinez’s contract expired following the match against Spain, and he acknowledged that the defeat to Spain marked his final game, stating that it was an experience he would always remember.

Ronaldo also conveyed a message to Martinez, expressing his fondness for working with the Spaniard. 

He extended his best wishes to the former Belgium manager, saying, “What I want to say to the gaffer is that he was a person I loved working with. He is a great coach and what he did for Portugal was very important.

“He won a title, and I value it very much. Show how good you have to be to win a title for Portugal. I just have to say thank you and wish you all the best.”

Martinez was linked with Al-Nassr, but they have appointed Ange Postecoglou.