Euro 2024: Ronaldo is in the national team on merit, not reputation – Roberto Martinez

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo is in the national team on merit and not because of his reputation. Ronaldo made his Euro debut as a teenager back in 2004. The 39-year-old is regarded as one of the best football players of this era and he still has the hunger to keep going strongly despite turning 39.

Ronaldo has an outstanding record while playing in Euros, as he has scored 14 goals in 25 appearances for the national team. The talisman also led Portugal to glory in Euro 2016 as they defeated France by 1-0.

Meanwhile, CR7 scored 10 goals in nine qualifying games as Portugal topped Group J ahead of Slovakia, Luxembourg, Iceland, Bosnia, and Liechtenstein in Euro 2024 qualifiers.

The talisman was in stellar form for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League 2023-24 season as he scored 35 goals and provided 11 assists in 31 appearances. Furthermore, he scored six goals and two assists in nine matches of the AFC Champions League.

“Cristiano is in the national team on merit,” Martinez told a news conference on Monday ahead of Portugal’s opening Group F game against Czechia. “Nobody gets into the national team by just having a name. Cristiano scored 50 goals in 51 games — consistent with his club in his league — and he scored nine goals in our qualification rounds.

“He’s a goal scorer and for us he’s someone who can make that final move. He can stretch defences and open spaces. Over the years he has changed his way of playing slightly, but I can only say that Cristiano is in the national team on merit and the numbers are there to back that up.”

On the other hand, Ruben Dias also showered praise on his teammate and said Ronaldo is an inspiration for the whole squad.

“He represents inspiration, he represents that everything is possible,” teammate Rúben Dias said of Ronaldo. “He represents that you can dream and you can achieve it. He represents a lot of things, but mainly I would like to say that it’s a pleasure to have him with us.

“More than all these little things, him being with us in this moment of his career, he shows that he really wants to win again. He’s our captain and we follow him until the end.”