Why didn't he take Ronaldo off? Martínez explains

Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez has answered a question that arose after their 0-0 draw with Colombia: with the team already through to the Round of 32, why did Cristiano Ronaldo stay on the pitch for all 90 minutes?

In the match played in Miami on June 27, Ronaldo was not at his best; his only shot on target was a free-kick from distance, while two of his efforts were blocked. Even so, Martínez stood by his decision not to take the star off.

Martínez stressed that he does not compare his own players to those of other teams when making decisions. Responding to references to Argentina resting Lionel Messi and Norway resting Erling Haaland in their final group games, the coach said such a comparison would be "childish and very unprofessional." He explained that they monitor player data live during matches, that Ronaldo's physical numbers were very good, and that they now have four days to recover. He also underlined that every player is assessed by the same standards.

At 41, Ronaldo has played every minute of the tournament, having scored twice in the 5-0 win over Uzbekistan and set several records in the process. After the match, the veteran forward posted "We are still together" on social media, having also been jeered by Colombia's fans.

Finishing second in Group K, Portugal will face Croatia in the Round of 32. The match, to be played on Thursday, carries a special meaning: it falls a day before the anniversary of the death of Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash with his brother last year. Martínez said he sees the day as something of a "celebration," that Jota must be honoured, and that everything the team built started with him.

Image: Goal