Martínez: Ronaldo and Messi Changed Football, This is the Secret to the Big Win

The Portuguese national team coach, Roberto Martinez, appeared in a press conference following the 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the second round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

The coach said about the secret to victory: "Controlling emotions was the key. In the first match, we scored a goal and then lost control of what we wanted to do and our discipline in our positions. Today, on the contrary, we continued until the end of the first half with clarity on what we needed to do. Additionally, the five players who came in as substitutes maintained very important tactical discipline, and that makes the difference. But I emphasize that controlling emotions is much more important."

He added: "How can performance be improved in such a short time? It's not just about days, but work over the previous 41 matches. The last few days were only for clarifying some concepts and focusing on what is important now. The work, especially on set pieces, has been ongoing for a long time. These days were very important psychologically, as the team became more responsible and distanced itself from external noise, which made the locker room stronger and more cohesive, allowing us to control our emotions. We have tactical flexibility and individual quality that allow us to perform like this. Scoring the second goal helped us, and the disallowance of Uzbekistan's goal was also important because in the previous match it wasn't disallowed, and the result changed because of it. Overall, I am very happy because we learned quickly from the mistakes of the first match."

Regarding the comparison between Messi and Ronaldo: "They are players who have changed football and elevated its level, and each needed the other through competition to continue developing. As for our captain, he is an icon playing in his sixth World Cup, but he is also the team leader. He exemplifies what it means to play for the national team. Today, his impact wasn't just in the two goals, but in the number of opportunities, his movements, creating space for his teammates, and his great discipline as a reference in attack. We have a style that relies on possession, risk-taking, and creating numerical superiority, but you need a player to finish the attacks in the area. I am very happy with him, he deserves it, and he is now focused on recovery and preparing for the next match, and this simplicity makes him unique."

Regarding the players' celebration with Austin McPhee after the third goal, as well as the second goal: "The players are well aware of his work. Set pieces are a real passion for Austin, and he conveys this idea to the team. It was nice to see the players celebrating and appreciating his work. It's not easy, as it requires a very high level of focus. We created significant danger from set pieces, not just the two goals, but throughout the match, and this is the result of very organized teamwork."

Regarding the draw in the first round: "We didn't get the result we were working for, and there was a lot of noise, some of it unfair and some fake and offensive news. But on the other hand, there was also great support. The team went through a tough moment, but the players showed strong character and didn't look for excuses. After a result like that, it's easy to collapse, but we chose to respond and work. We showed strong character and maturity, and learned how to manage emotions during matches. Cristiano was an ideal leader, focusing only on what he could control and using his experience wonderfully."

He concluded regarding the physical management of Cristiano Ronaldo: "He is a player who participates a lot with his club. The season was long, but he is in very good physical condition. We manage his condition match by match and training by training, and we constantly evaluate everything. His position on the field was a problem for Uzbekistan's defense; he caused chaos for them, and when that happens, we need to utilize him."