Roberto Martinez Raises Uncertainty About Ronaldo's Role Against Uzbekistan

Portugal's coach Roberto Martinez maintained ambiguity regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's role in his team's second group stage match of the 2026 World Cup against Uzbekistan, stating that he has not yet decided what he will announce to the players concerning the starting lineup.

During the press conference, Martinez said: "I can't comment on the lineup at the moment because I haven't informed the players yet. I prefer not to speak publicly about matters I haven't discussed with the players first."

The Portuguese national team faced widespread criticism following their disappointing 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the opening round. The criticism was particularly directed at Ronaldo, who seemed far from his usual form and failed to make an impact offensively during the match.

Martinez commented on the criticisms, saying: "We have reviewed our performance with honesty and self-criticism. Criticism is part of the job and the development process. We studied the mistakes we made, what we failed to implement, and what we need to change before the next match."