Cristiano Ronaldo has 'no plan' on when he will retire as Roberto Martinez explains why CR7 is still so important to Portugal national team - even if starting place is no longer 'guaranteed'

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains as important to his country as he has ever been, with his remarkable tally of international caps being taken to 219 and counting. Ronaldo has registered 136 goals across those appearances.

He has been called upon again for UEFA Nations League duty, as Portugal prepare to face Germany in the semi-finals of that competition, and continues to don the captain’s armband when stepping onto the field.

Plenty have been quick to write Ronaldo off, having seen him head to the Saudi Pro League and pass a milestone birthday, but Martinez remains adamant that the all-time great can continue for as long he sees fit.

Portugal’s head coach told Sport TV when asked about Ronaldo’s role in 2025: “On the field, he is meticulously monitored. Off the field, the players need to show team values, exemplary commitment. When we talk about players like Joao Neves and Mora, having the opportunity to speak to Cristiano helps their performance in the future with the national team.”

He added on when the day will come for CR7 to call it quits: “It's like talking about the weather, everyone has an opinion. No one has a plan, not even Cristiano himself.”

While happy to select Ronaldo as Portugal continue their countdown to the 2026 World Cup, Martinez has pointed that “no one has a guaranteed place” in his plans - with even Ronaldo, who is seeing a move away from Al-Nassr as a free agent speculated on, needing to prove his worth.