Roberto Martinez Praises Cristiano Ronaldo As A “Winner” Ahead Of Euro 2024.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has heaped praise on Cristiano Ronaldo for his remarkable career achievements as the forward gears up to make history at Euro 2024.
Currently, Ronaldo shares the record of five European Championship appearances with Spain’s legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas. However, he will surpass Casillas when he takes to the field for Portugal in Germany.
After the 2022 World Cup, the 39-year-old’s international future seemed uncertain, but Martinez emphasized upon his appointment as manager that Ronaldo remained a vital part of his plans.
Ronaldo scored 10 goals during the Euro 2024 qualification campaign and heads into the tournament on the back of an impressive season with Al-Nassr, where he scored 44 goals and provided 13 assists in 45 appearances.
Martinez has commended Ronaldo for his achievements as Portugal prepares for one final friendly against the Republic of Ireland before their Euro 2024 opener against Czech Republic on June 18.
“There are few players who have accomplished what he has. He sets an example in multiple aspects. To be the sole player to exceed 200 appearances for your country – that’s an achievement that’s not easily attained,” Martinez told UEFA’s official website.
“What astonishes me about Cristiano is his continual defiance of his age. After each training session, the coaching staff and I are astounded by the effort he puts in, despite having achieved so much already. He could choose to ease off, but his drive to win, his obsession with being the best, his pursuit of perfection in his career – it’s infectious.
“Young players, upon joining the national team, see someone they’ve idolized as a person, a player, an idol. His conduct is exemplary, and it’s something we should cherish in Portugal.
“If we can have players like Pepe, like Ronaldo, setting and passing on that example, they’ll elevate us for the generations to come. That’s what Cristiano embodies. He’s a winner, and his perspective on the game is unparalleled.”
Martinez praises Portugal’s mindset
Martinez also highlighted Portugal’s flawless qualification campaign for Euro 2024, where they won all 10 of their matches, as evidence that the team has the potential to compete for trophies.
“Winning ten games is a reflection of approaching each match with the goal of achieving perfection in our performance. I saw it during the first game [against Liechtenstein], particularly at half-time,” he remarked.
“That moment was when I realized the group possessed an incredible ability to implement strategies and execute tactics that elevated individual talent to the level of a formidable team.
“That pivotal moment, during half-time against Liechtenstein, showcased the commitment of a group of players willing to do whatever necessary to strengthen the team. At that point, I knew we had a foundation upon which to build.”
Portugal began their preparations for Euro 2024 with a 4-2 victory over Finland in their opening warm-up match on June 4. However, they encountered a setback with a 2-1 defeat to Croatia on Saturday night.
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