When Roberto Martínez took charge of Portugal in January 2023, we met for a quiet coffee in west London. He was in the city to observe several of his squad members, yet our conversation inevitably centred on one footballer not even in Europe at the time: Cristiano Ronaldo. The key question lingered — did the national icon still merit a place in Portugal’s evolving setup?

At that point, I had my doubts. Ronaldo was 37, fresh from his move to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and appeared to many to be winding down a legendary career far from elite European competition. Martínez, ever composed and diplomatic, countered that belief. He spoke highly of Ronaldo’s professionalism, work ethic, and ability to maintain elite standards within the national team. He dismissed the ongoing narrative that Ronaldo’s best years were behind him.

Fast forward almost three years. In that time, Ronaldo has added 25 more goals for Portugal, stretching his unprecedented international record to 143. Those strikes were not solely against modest opponents; they included goals versus top-20 nations such as Croatia, Switzerland, and Denmark, as well as a superb volley in the Nations League final against world-number-one Spain. More recently, he netted twice against Hungary in World Cup qualifying, a reminder that his finishing instincts remain sharp.

Still, despite his output, there is growing evidence that Portugal must begin considering a future not built around their long-time talisman. Ronaldo, now 40, has worn the national shirt 226 times and remains deeply woven into the identity of Portuguese football. With the 2030 World Cup—set to be largely hosted by Portugal and Spain—approaching, the prospect of phasing him out is far from straightforward. For Martínez, the decision to reduce or redefine Ronaldo’s role will be one of the most delicate challenges of his tenure.