Martínez on Ronaldo at 41: *'Age Is Just a Number'*

Roberto Martínez praises both Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić as 'special athletes above public opinion' ahead of Thursday's knockout clash in Toronto. The Spanish coach reveals Bernardo Silva returns to the starting XI after being rested to avoid yellow card risk.

Match Snapshot

• Kick-offThu, 20:00 Brasília
• VenueToronto, Canada
• Ronaldo's age41 years
• Modrić's age40+
• Portugal squad used21 players
• At stakeR16 → Spain/Austria

Two Icons, One Pitch

When Portugal face Croatia on Thursday night in Toronto, the captains' armbands will belong to two men with a combined age north of 80—and Roberto Martínez wouldn't have it any other way.

The Portugal coach, speaking ahead of the World Cup Round of 16 clash, delivered a full-throated defense of his 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo and opposite number Luka Modrić, both of whom continue to defy conventional wisdom about athletic decline. 'We're talking about players who are above public opinion,' Martínez said. 'Their longevity in football shows they are special athletes. We're talking about Luka, already over 40, still racking up important matches. The same goes for our captain. When we talk about age, it's just a number. What really matters is what they do on the pitch and the importance they have through the example they give daily in the dressing room.'

It's rare to hear a coach so explicitly dismiss the age question—Ronaldo turns 42 next February, Modrić is into his fifth decade—but Martínez framed it as a matter of output over optics. Both players remain starters for their nations. Both delivered in the group stage. Both, in Martínez's view, are 'true icons of world football precisely because of their longevity and the level they continue to present.'

Bernardo Silva Returns, Group Stage 'Was Preparation'

Beyond the veterans' narrative, Martínez dropped a tactical hint: Bernardo Silva is back in the starting XI. The Manchester City midfielder was held out of the final group match against Colombia to avoid a yellow card that would have ruled him out of this exact fixture. 'We couldn't risk using Bernardo Silva against Colombia, because a yellow card would have compromised the game against the Croats,' Martínez explained.

The Spanish coach reframed Portugal's group stage—three matches, mixed results—as essential preparation rather than the tournament proper. 'Tomorrow we begin the second World Cup,' he said. 'It was very important to have good preparation. That preparation was the three group games. There were aspects to improve, we did some things well and others more difficult. What's important now is that we have 21 players who have already featured in this World Cup. That means everyone is ready, including Gonçalo Inácio and Gonçalo Guedes, who had excellent preparation.'

The message: Portugal enter knockout football with a fully rotated, match-fit squad. Minutes played matter less than readiness. 'The essential thing is that everyone is ready to help the team, whether in the starting eleven, the team that finishes the match, or on the bench to continue our path.'

Key Figures in Portugal's Knockout Push

Cristiano Ronaldo (Captain, 41)

Still starting and still the emotional engine. Martínez calls him an example 'above public opinion'—code for: the results speak louder than the skeptics.

Bernardo Silva (Midfielder)

Held out of the Colombia match to avoid suspension. Returns to the starting XI with fresh legs and no yellow card baggage heading into the knockout rounds.

Gonçalo Inácio & Gonçalo Guedes (Rotation options)

Both credited by Martínez as having 'excellent preparation' during the group stage. Depth pieces now match-ready for high-stakes minutes.

What's Next

The winner of Portugal-Croatia advances to face the victor of Spain vs Austria, with all four European sides in action Thursday. It's a knockout bracket that reads like a throwback—two aging legends, two nations with recent tournament pedigree, and a coach willing to bet his World Cup on the idea that class, not age, is the deciding variable.

Martínez's gamble: that Ronaldo and his cadre of rotated, rested, and tactically prepped teammates can outlast a Croatian side equally reliant on an over-40 maestro. If the group stage was preparation, Thursday is the exam.

FAQ

Portugal deliberately rested him against Colombia to avoid a yellow card suspension. He was one booking away from missing the Croatia match, so Martínez held him out as a precaution. He returns to the starting XI with a clean slate for the knockout rounds.

Ronaldo is 41 years old. According to coach Roberto Martínez, his age is 'just a number'—what matters is his on-field output and leadership in the dressing room. He remains Portugal's captain and a starter in the knockout stage.

The winner advances to the quarterfinals to face the victor of Spain vs Austria. All four matches in this section of the bracket feature European teams and take place on Thursday.

Yes. Martínez confirmed that 21 players have already featured in the tournament, which he described as essential preparation. The rotation means the entire squad is match-fit and ready for knockout football.