Jose Mourinho piles the pressure on Roberto Martinez as Benfica boss insists Portugal must aim to win 2026 World Cup

Legendary manager Mourinho, who returned to his homeland after two decades and took charge of Benfica as head coach, wants Martinez to deliver the World Cup next year in North America. Speaking on the sidelines of the Portugal Football Globes, Mourinho said: "Looking at what is now most obvious, which is the composition of the National team, we are talking about players who play for the biggest Portuguese clubs and also in the best European leagues. The prestige is extremely high and accumulates. We can always talk about the pioneers, the first players and coaches to emerge, but so many years have passed that now it's a matter of accumulating talent. The FPF is creating all the conditions so that Portugal can have the conditions we have today. In a World Cup year, to say that we don't have the ambition to be world champions is almost heresy."

Portugal icon Ronaldo is showing no signs of slowing down despite being at the tailend of his career at the age of 40. The Al-Nassr star has started the new season on a relentless note in Saudi Arabia and he looks determined to give his best at what will be his last World Cup appearance in North America next year.

After returning to Benfica this summer, Mourinho had admitted that he always had plans to return to his homeland, but wanted to manage the Portugal national team. Speaking to Sky Sports News, the 62-year-old had said: "I’m honest, I always thought I would be back to Portugal. But I always thought I would come back to the national team. I knew that the national team would come sooner or later. It has come before, I didn’t, I couldn’t accept. I was thinking one day it will happen. I think it is a natural consequence of my career. [But] it happened to be Benfica. A giant club."

Portugal kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign in September with back-to-back wins over Hungary and Armenia. In October, they are scheduled to face Ireland and Hungary on October 11 and 14 respectively, in home fixtures and Martinez's side will aim to maintain their perfect record.