Roberto Martinez to Quit Portugal After 2026 World Cup — What That Means for Cristiano Ronaldo

Roberto Martinez has reportedly decided not to renew his contract as Portugal head coach and will leave his post after the 2026 World Cup, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook as reported by World Soccer Talk. The announcement — still described in media reports rather than an official FPF statement — comes with the tournament already under way and places added focus on Cristiano Ronaldo and a Portugal squad widely viewed among the favourites for this World Cup.

Why it matters

If the reports are accurate, Martinez’s decision to treat the 2026 World Cup as the conclusion of his Portugal project reshapes the narrative around a side that combines established stars and emerging talent. For Cristiano Ronaldo — on his sixth World Cup — the tournament is already a high-stakes moment; the prospect of it being Martinez’s final championship as coach adds another headline for players, fans and the Portuguese federation to manage during the competition.

What the reports say

World Soccer Talk relays reporting from Alex Crook of talkSPORT that Martinez has made a personal decision not to renew his contract and will depart after the World Cup "regardless of how they perform." The story says Martinez viewed the World Cup as the natural endpoint for the cycle that began with his appointment in January 2023. The accounts presented in the article are described as media reports rather than an official announcement.

Managerial record and recent form under Martinez

Martinez took over in January 2023 and quickly led a modernizing project. Under his tenure Portugal completed a perfect UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign — winning all ten matches — and went on to secure the UEFA Nations League title in 2025 with a victory over Spain in the final. Euro 2024 itself ended for Portugal in the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by France. The campaign to qualify for this World Cup included a notable 9-1 win over Armenia and saw Portugal finish top of their qualifying group, booking a seventh consecutive World Cup appearance.

Tournament context and squad

Portugal are drawn in Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia and begin the competition against DR Congo on June 17 (kick-off listed at 17:00 UTC in the supplied match data). The squad combines veteran leaders and players at the peak of their powers — alongside Cristiano Ronaldo the article lists Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Ruben Dias and Nuno Mendes as key figures in the group heading into the World Cup.

Portugal are widely regarded among the favourites, and Martinez’s reported decision not to extend his stay means every match in this tournament carries the added subtext of a managerial curtain call.

Implications for Ronaldo, the squad and the FPF

For Ronaldo, who remains the face of Portuguese football despite his age, the World Cup already represents a final realistic opportunity to add the one major international honour missing from his CV. Martinez’s reported exit plan could influence future squad planning and the short-term approach taken by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) after the tournament — but the reports do not include any official reaction from the FPF or Martinez himself.

• Reports (via World Soccer Talk citing talkSPORT/Alex Crook) say Martinez has decided not to renew and will leave after the 2026 World Cup.
• Portugal are in Group K with DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia; match_data lists Portugal vs DR Congo on 2026-06-17 at 17:00 UTC.
• Cristiano Ronaldo is competing in his sixth World Cup.
• Martinez became Portugal coach in January 2023 and led the side to the 2025 UEFA Nations League title.
• Portugal completed a perfect Euro 2024 qualifying campaign and finished top of their World Cup qualifying group, including a 9-1 win over Armenia.

What happens next

At present the report is attributed to media sources; an official confirmation from the Portuguese Football Federation or Roberto Martinez would be required to verify the decision definitively. Portugal’s immediate focus remains on their opening World Cup fixtures and their campaign under Martinez while the tournament is ongoing.

If confirmed, the federation will face the task of planning a succession process after the World Cup while also managing the expectations and dynamics within a squad containing multiple senior figures and high-profile talents. For fans and observers, the World Cup now carries both the usual competitive stakes and the prospect of a managerial transition at its conclusion.