Ronaldo the GOAT regardless of World Cup success, claims Martinez

Cristiano Ronaldo will be remembered as the greatest player of all time regardless of whether or not he wins the World Cup, claims his Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez.

Ronaldo – along with his great rival Lionel Messi – is set to appear at a record-breaking sixth edition of the World Cup this year, but he is yet to enjoy success at the tournament.

Despite appearing in 22 matches across the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups – the fifth-most of any player in competition history – Ronaldo has never scored in a knockout-stage match at the tournament.

Ronaldo is the only player to score at five different World Cups, but his eight goals have all come in the group stage (one in 2006, one in 2010, one in 2014, four in 2018, one in 2022). In addition, three of Ronaldo’s goals at the World Cup have come from the penalty spot.

By contrast, Messi holds the record for the most goal involvements in World Cup history (21 – 13 goals, eight assists) and only needs three goals to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time scoring record, having netted twice as Argentina beat France in the 2022 final.

But when asked if Ronaldo needed to follow in Messi’s footsteps and lift the trophy to be remembered as the greatest-ever player, Martinez told the Portugal Football Summit Podcast: “He will be the greatest player ever, whether he wins the World Cup or not.

“I have never worked with a player who, every morning, has this focus on using the day to improve.

“If we could have Cristiano forever, it would be the easiest way to help younger players when they arrive in the national team. His desire is to use every day to become better.”

Ronaldo has scored 94 goals in 97 Saudi Pro League appearances since joining Al-Nassr at the end of 2022, with 20 of those coming in 20 matches this season.

Ronaldo was memorably dropped by Martinez’s predecessor, Fernando Santos, ahead of a last-16 clash with Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup, with his replacement Goncalo Ramos scoring a hat-trick in a 6-1 victory for the Selecao, who then exited in the next round.

But Martinez believes the 41-year-old, whose 143 international goals are the most by any male player in history, still plays a crucial role on and off the field.

“I think we need to accept that everyone in the world knows Cristiano Ronaldo and has an opinion,” Martinez said.

“But the Cristiano Ronaldo who joined the national team 21 years ago is not the same Cristiano he is now. Now, he’s much more of a positional player, a striker.

“He’s a player who, for us, is a finisher. He’s the all-time leading scorer. So, having a player who now has 25 goals in the last 30 games for the national team is a gift.”

Portugal will face Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K at the World Cup, in addition to the winner of a play-off path that includes DR Congo, Jamaica and New Caledonia.