Roberto Martinez wants Portugal players to learn Cristiano Ronaldo 's hunger before the World Cup, not just copy his training or diet.
The message matters because Ronaldo is no longer just Portugal's greatest scorer. At this stage of his career, he is also being used as the standard for how younger players should approach the game every day.
Martinez's point was simple. Ronaldo's biggest lesson is not what he has already won, but how quickly he starts chasing the next improvement.
Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images
Speaking to El Larguero , Martinez explained why Ronaldo remains such an important model for Portugal's younger generation.
"We would love to be able to pass on Cristiano Ronaldo's model to all young footballers in Portugal because he is a role model.
"We, the [national team] coaching staff, have come to a conclusion: Cristiano Ronaldo does not play to win a specific collective or individual title," Martinez said.
That is a revealing way to frame Ronaldo's value. Martinez is not only talking about goals, records or the aura that comes with a player of his status. He is talking about the mindset that has kept Ronaldo relevant across generations, managers, and tactical changes.
For Portugal, that matters before the World Cup because the squad has elite young talent, but Martinez wants that talent to match Ronaldo's daily drive.
Martinez then explained the quality he believes separates Ronaldo from most players, even after everything he has already achieved.
"Cristiano is not defined by what he eats, but by the hunger he possesses. Whatever Cristiano wins, the very next day he has the same hunger to improve," Martinez added.
That line cuts through the usual discussion around Ronaldo. His diet, fitness, and professionalism are famous, but Martinez sees those habits as the result of something deeper.
The real lesson is hunger. Ronaldo can win a title, break a record or produce another milestone, then return the next day as if he still has something to prove.
That is the quality Portugal need to carry into the World Cup. Bruno Fernandes , Bernardo Silva , Rafael Leao , Joao Felix , and the next generation already give the team enough ability to dream big.
Martinez wants Ronaldo's example to turn that ability into an edge. Portugal do not just need talent; they need the same refusal to feel satisfied that has defined their captain's career.
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