Portugal is aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back Nations League titles, following their 2019 triumph under Fernando Santos. The veteran coach also famously led the team to victory at Euro 2016. Now, the dream continues—this time under Roberto Martínez. And never before has Portugal had a coach with the Spaniard’s record.
Martínez has overseen 28 matches as Portugal’s manager, delivering outstanding results: 20 wins, four draws, and four losses (two in friendlies). He holds the best points-per-game average in Portuguese national team history—2.32—surpassing even Fernando Santos (2.02).
His win rate stands at an impressive 71.04%, ahead of predecessors like Santos (63%), Paulo Bento (56%), Carlos Queiroz (51%), and Luiz Felipe Scolari (56.8%).
As Portugal flourishes under Roberto Martínez, so does Cristiano Ronaldo, the enduring face of the national team. Speaking recently on the Movistar+ program Universo Valdano, Martínez emphasized the importance of a player’s motivation: “For me, the most important thing is knowing why a player wants to be in the national team...” At 40, CR7 still burns with that desire.
In fact, Ronaldo is thriving under Martínez. He’s scoring at a higher rate than ever: 0.81 goals per game. No other coach has gotten more out of him. For comparison: he averaged 0.62 goals per game under Santos, 0.57 under Bento, just 0.07 with Queiroz, and 0.28 under Scolari. So far, he has racked up 18 goals and four assists under the Spaniard—a testament to their effective partnership.
Cristiano Ronaldo clearly isn’t done yet. First up: the Nations League clash with Germany. Then, eyes turn to the 2026 World Cup—a tournament that remains a lingering unfinished chapter in his otherwise legendary career. Perhaps, under Roberto Martínez, that story will finally find its perfect ending.