Ronaldo absent, Portugal coach speaks frankly about the 1000-goal milestone

While public opinion frequently discusses this historic milestone, coach Roberto Martínez views Cristiano Ronaldo in a very different way.

The captain of the Portuguese national team, Roberto Martínez, recently addressed the topic of Cristiano Ronaldo reaching the milestone of 1,000 goals—a subject that has attracted significant attention lately. According to this coach, external evaluations do not accurately reflect how Ronaldo operates within the national team, particularly his actual role on the field.

Martínez emphasized that Ronaldo's contributions are not limited to scoring goals. “We have had matches where Cristiano could easily have scored, but he chose to assist instead. I greatly appreciate that. Being a forward is not just about scoring; it's also about making the right decisions inside the penalty area. Sometimes, an assist can be even more important than a goal.” This perspective reveals how Portugal values the 41-year-old superstar—and is also key to understanding why the 1,000-goal milestone is not an absolute priority.

In reality, Ronaldo continues to maintain impressive performance with 25 goals in his last 30 matches. However, according to Martínez, what is more noteworthy is how he handles situations and supports his teammates. “We are talking about a forward who has scored 25 goals in 30 matches. But what I value more is his conduct inside the penalty area. Cristiano does not have any ‘obsession’ with 1,000 goals as outsiders often say. He expresses himself differently. I cannot speak for his club, but in the national team, he is completely different,” he affirmed.

In that context, Ronaldo is not participating in Portugal's March training camp. He suffered a muscle injury in late February while playing for Al Nassr and has not recovered sufficiently. Previously, coach Jorge Jesus confirmed: “After examinations, we found the injury to be more severe than initially assessed. He needs rest and treatment, and will go to Spain for recovery.”

Even without their greatest icon, the Portuguese national team still boasts many stars such as Bruno Fernandes, João Neves, Rafael Leão, and João Félix. This is seen as an opportunity for Martínez to test the lineup in friendly matches against Mexico and the USA, preparing for the 2026 World Cup.

Ronaldo's absence makes Martínez's statement even more noteworthy. While the frenzy over 1,000 goals continues to spread, Portugal's internal focus is on collective value and match effectiveness. With this approach, clearly Ronaldo's journey with the national team is measured not only by numbers, but also by how he shapes the overall style of play.