Will Cristiano Ronaldo also leave? Portugal boss Roberto Martinez will step down after the World Cup in a major shake-up

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez hugs Cristiano Ronaldo during an international friendly soccer match between Portugal and Nigeria in Leiria, Portugal, Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida) Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign is set to begin in the shadow of a major decision that could reshape the national team beyond this summer. Roberto Martinez will not continue as Portugal coach after the tournament, with the Spaniard opting not to extend his contract, which expires at the end of July. His departure brings to a close a three-and-a-half-year spell in charge and raises an equally significant question over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is widely expected to play in his final World Cup at the age of 41. As Portugal prepare to play DR Congo in Houston on June 17 before further Group K games against Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 27, the tournament could mark the end of one era and the beginning of another.

Martinez’s decision signals the end of a successful cycle

According to talkSPORTMartinez has informed the Portuguese football authorities that he will not renew his contract when it expires after the World Cup. The decision appears to have been made in collaboration with the Portuguese Football Federation, allowing preparations for a successor to begin quietly before the tournament reaches its conclusion. TalkSPORT correspondent Alex Crook explained the situation: “I’m told it’s his decision not to renew Martinez’s contract with the aim of returning to managing a club in either the Premier League or a top European team, or potentially taking over one of the other big European nations.” Crook added: “We haven’t heard anything about it publicly but no doubt he will be asked about it when he next faces the media. But the decision was made in conjunction with the Portuguese FA so they can start looking for a potential successor.” Martinez oversaw one of the most productive periods in Portugal’s modern history. The nation entered his tenure already with successes in the form of the Euro 2016 title and the inaugural UEFA Nations League triumph in 2019. Under his leadership, Portugal added a second Nations League crown in 2025 and maintained a consistently high level of performance.

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez, center, arrives at the World Cup soccer tournament, Friday, June 12, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

The former Everton and Wigan Athletic manager also owns 70 per cent of Portugal’s wins, the highest of any manager in the country’s history, while becoming the fastest manager to oversee 100 national team goals. Although Portugal exited Euro 2024 in the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out defeat to France, Martinez quickly responded by leading the team to Nations League success against Spain the following year. His World Cup record remains mixed. Martinez led Belgium to third place in 2018 before suffering a shock group stage exit in Qatar four years later.

Portugal insist they are fully focused on the World Cup

Reports of Martinez’s future intensified in the build-up to Portugal’s opener, but the federation tried to keep the focus on the tournament itself. Responding to the speculation, a spokesman for the Portuguese Football Federation told the Press Association: “The FPF and Roberto Martinez are solely focused on the World Cup. The federation and the coach are united on this matter, as they have publicly stated.” The Press Association also reported that Martinez and the federation had agreed that any formal discussions about his future would wait until after the finals. Martinez took charge in January 2023 following his departure from Belgium and is understood to be considering a return to club football in England or elsewhere in Europe, with another international position remaining an option.

Ronaldo’s World Cup final?

While Martinez’s departure has become a major talking point, much of the attention inevitably returns to Ronaldo. The Portugal captain is starting his sixth World Cup and has repeatedly hinted that the tournament is likely to be his last appearance on football’s biggest stage. The World Cup remains the only major trophy missing from a career that already includes European Championship success, Nations League titles, five Ballon d’Ors and countless domestic honors.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo goes to becnh after being substituted during the international friendly soccer match between Portugal and Nigeria in Leiria, Portugal, Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)

Bruno Fernandes acknowledged the importance of sharing the podium with Ronaldo again, especially with the captain preparing for what is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance. “We all grew up watching Cristiano Ronaldo play and it’s a great honor to play alongside him now in the same team,” Fernandes told a news conference ahead of Portugal’s World Cup opener against DR Congo. “I think he’s also nervous because at the end of the day he’s also representing his national team and we know how passionate he is when he plays for Portugal. We’re all here to support him and support Portugal to go as far as possible.”

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo warms up during the men’s national soccer team practice ahead of their FIFA World Cup soccer tournament Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

That sense of Ronaldo’s lasting influence extended beyond the dressing room and into Martinez’s own assessment of the player, with the Portuguese coach stressing that the 41-year-old remains one of the most important figures in the squad despite entering his sixth World Cup. “He’s a role model,” Martinez said. “He’s an iconic player in global football for young athletes, children, men and women, who start to feel the love of football when they play on the street, and that’s great for us. It’s his sixth World Cup, but internally it feels like his first World Cup in terms of his intensity, his emotion and his ability to lead a group.” “He is a vital player in the team because he is a finisher, he is a player in the penalty area, he is a player who has the kind of movements that can open up space for other players. In our attacking game, his numbers reflect the importance he has.” Whether Ronaldo decides to continue outside the tournament remains unknown. What is clear is that Martinez will leave regardless of Portugal’s performance in North America. For a team with Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha, the coming weeks offer an opportunity to achieve something no Portuguese manager has managed to do: win the World Cup. If that ambition comes true, Martinez would leave with the greatest achievement in Portuguese football history, while Ronaldo would finally claim the one award that has eluded him during an extraordinary international career.