Martínez full of praise for Ronaldo: 'Never worked with such a talented player'

National coach Roberto Martínez has lashed out at the criticism the Portuguese national team faced after the first World Cup group match against DR Congo (1-1). Portugal recovered convincingly with a resounding 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, in which Cristiano Ronaldo again proved his worth with two goals.

At the press conference afterwards, Martínez spoke about the past few days: "It was a difficult week for us. We had to deal with unjustified fuss and wrong messages. Fortunately, there were also many Portuguese supporters who continued to support the team and understand that these kinds of experiences are important in the football world."


Cristiano Ronaldo was heavily criticized after the draw with Congo, but responded against Uzbekistan with two goals and a complete match. This also made him historically the first player to score at six different World Cups. According to Martínez, Ronaldo's performance illustrates his unique qualities and resilience. "He is an exemplary captain. He plays everything at his club Al-Nassr and has always remained fit, except for one injury. Against Uzbekistan he was always a problem for the opponent. I don't know exactly whether this is due to his genes or his work ethic, but it is certainly unique. I have never worked with a player with so much talent."

The Portuguese national coach emphasized that the criticism is often unjustified and that Ronaldo always continues to answer on the field through his performances. "He is also just a human being, but his professionalism ensures that he performs at a top level year after year."

---

## Related Articles

1. [Mundial 2026](https://azzurrigoal.com/it/news/chi-e-il-marcatore-africano-piu-anziano-della-coppa-del-mondo-piu-grande-di-ronaldo-e-messi) 2. [Mundial 2026](https://azzurrigoal.com/it/news/coppa-del-mondo-2026-cristiano-ronaldo-diventa-il-primo-uomo-a-segnare-in-sei-coppe-del-mondo)