Since Roberto Martínez became ­the Portugal manager after the 2022 World Cup, the issue of Cristiano Ronaldo has haunted him.His predecessor, Fernando Santos, had taken the decision to leave Ronaldo out of the last-16 tie against Switzerland in Qatar and was rewarded not only with a 6-1 win, but with a hat-trick for Gonçalo Ramos. Martínez, though, restored Ronaldo to his starting line-up and, despite persistent criticism, kept selecting him.Martínez had nothing but praise for the 41-year-old forward despite another unimpressive display here in the 1-0 loss to Spain, which ended Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign at the last-16 stage.“I had a word of thanks to him,” Martínez said. “He has been an exemplary captain. I arrived when there was a lot of confusion and questions in terms of his position in the team. But he has been an example not only in the number of goals he has scored, but also in the counterattacks he leads. He is an example, a role model to follow. He is a football icon. There aren’t many Ronaldos out there.“His dream was to win this World Cup and he did this by being an amazing example within the dressing room,” the manager added. “He is a prime example of football, the athlete, and the human being who is behind that athlete.”‘He is a role model to follow’: Roberto Martínez issues instructions to Cristiano Ronaldo during the game. Photograph: Julio Cortez/APMartínez rejected any suggestion he should have substituted Ronaldo in what proved to be his final World Cup match. “When you are a team who need a goal you cannot take him off,” he said. “He’s physically very ­capable, in open space and from dead balls; anything in the box, you need his experience.“Probably in extra time would be when you might use the energy of Gonçalo Ramos. Today, we had to keep the structure. It’s not the time to take your centre-forward, your best goalscorer off.”The defeat was also Martínez’s last game as Portugal manager. “I’m not disappointed,” he said. “I am proud. We played one of the favourites eye-to-eye. The journey we had to be able to play like this. I feel immense pride. Immense pride in our personality and focus.”Ronaldo had confirmed before the match that this World Cup would be his last as a player. “I am sad to leave like this but I have given everything, always given my best,” he said after Monday’s defeat in Dallas. “I go with a clear conscience. This is football, it is the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.Despite accepting he has played his last World Cup game, Ronaldo did not make a firm decision about his future at international level. “You have to carry on. It was my last World Cup, yes, but as far as the rest of it is concerned: there will be time to think, to be with my family, [I will] not make decisions in the heat of the moment.”skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion“I will wake up tomorrow the same way I woke up today: with a clear conscience. I gave my all. I won three titles with Portugal,” he added, referring to Euro 2016 and the team’s two Nations League titles, won in 2019 and 2025. “Before Cristiano, Portugal had never won a title trophy.“The best trophy I won with the national team was 2016, which for me has the same dimension as the World Cup,” Ronaldo concluded. “So I repeat: I leave here with a clear conscience. Tomorrow will be another day and life goes on.”Luis de la Fuente, the Spain coach, was delighted at the impact the goalscorer, Mikel Merino, made from the bench. “He’s an exceptional player,” he said, “one of the best in his ­position worldwide. He’s given us a fantastic performance and a ­fantastic goal. I would go and pick him up and carry him to the national squad if I had to. The contribution of our substitutes has been enormous throughout the tournament.”