Martinez rejected the idea that Portugal should copy other nations who protected key players in the final group match. He said the coaching staff monitors players’ physical information throughout games and assesses each role individually.
For Ronaldo, the argument is that his position demands something different. Martinez pointed to the captain’s movement and experience, saying he “está acostumado a estar no lugar certo, na hora certa”.
That defence does not guarantee another full match in the knockout stage. Martinez acknowledged that a change could come against Croatia, but stressed it would be considered in the same way as any decision involving another player.
The question is whether Portugal can maximise Ronaldo’s penalty-box instincts while covering for the defensive work he no longer provides as consistently. Against Croatia, that balance may be more important than the debate over minutes alone.
The last-16 meeting will carry an emotional weight beyond the football. The match falls one day before the anniversary of Diogo Jota’s death, with his image already shown inside the stadium before Portugal’s game against Colombia.
Martinez has urged the squad to treat the occasion as a tribute rather than a source of fear. “Queremos ganhar a Copa do Mundo por ele,” he said, presenting Jota as a continuing source of motivation for the group.
Portugal now face a different kind of challenge: a knockout tie in which Ronaldo’s experience, the team’s defensive structure and its emotional resilience will all be tested.
The next fixture will reveal whether Martinez’s faith in his captain can carry Portugal deeper into the tournament - and whether Jota’s memory can inspire a performance worthy of the moment.