“No one should doubt that”
Will Ronaldo still play in the 2030 World Cup?
May 29, 2026 – 2:21 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
In four years Portugal will be one of the co-hosts. Their current national coach Roberto Martinez does not want to rule out a seventh participation of his old star.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo still play for Portugal at the 2030 World Cup? National coach Roberto Martinez believes that the record national player can take part in another tournament despite his old age.
In an interview with the radio station Cadena Ser, Martinez was asked whether Ronaldo would be conceivable at the 2030 World Cup. The Spaniard replied: “No one should doubt that. He deserves it.”
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If Ronaldo actually takes part, it would be his seventh World Cup. The attacker would be 45 years old at the start of the tournament. First up for the Portuguese is the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The now 41-year-old will take part in a world championship there for the sixth time.
So far, Ronaldo has left it open whether he will continue his career after the tournament. Argentina’s world champion Lionel Messi will also take part in a World Cup for the sixth time next summer.
Martinez: “Ronaldo embodies a completely different mentality”
In the interview, Martinez particularly emphasized his captain’s mentality. The Al Nassr striker is defined “by his unbridled ambition”. The national coach continued: “Whatever Cristiano wins, the next day his hunger for improvement is unbroken.”
Martinez added: “I have worked with many players who won the Champions League or the Ballon d’Or and lost their ambition the next day. Ronaldo embodies a completely different mentality.”
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Portugal will face DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K at the World Cup. The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Portugal, Spain and Morocco. There will also be one game each in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
