Roberto Martinez Resigns: Portugal Fail

JAKARTA - Roberto Martinez confirmed that he will leave his job as Portugal coach after a 0-1 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup 16th round on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, early morning WIB, while denying that the result was a failure.

Substitute Mikel Merino scored in the 91st minute at the AT&T Stadium to send Spain through to the quarter-finals, with Cristiano Ronaldo making his final appearance at the World Cup.

Martinez took over the Portugal leadership in 2023 and his contract will expire after the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking at a post-match press conference, he said it made no sense to continue in the role, having also been knocked out in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.

"Yes, this is my last match with the Portuguese National Team. I'm proud. I've played 45 matches. I feel accepted and loved in Portugal. These are memories I will always carry with me."

"It's a pleasure, a source of pride, and a responsibility. It's difficult, but it's the end of a cycle and in its context, it makes a lot of sense," Martinez said.

Martinez coached Belgium before taking over the job in Portugal. Previously he was manager of Everton, Wigan, and Swansea.

Portugal have one of the most talented squads at the 2026 World Cup - with a midfield packed with Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes, as well as Ronaldo in attack - but Martinez denied that elimination in the last 16 was a failure.

"We didn't fail. We lost one game, against a team that is one of the favourites. We showed incredible individual talent."

"Winning or losing in big matches, with big teams, is about details. You fail if you don't try to win. We tried to win until the last minute."

"It's not just Portugal. Not many countries consistently reach the final stages of the World Cup. It's very difficult to be consistent and always qualify."

"There are things that make a difference, like the ball hitting the crossbar. These are the things that determine the World Cup," he said.

Martinez also defended his decision to keep Ronaldo on the pitch for 90 minutes.

"When you are a team and you need a goal, you can't pull Cristiano Ronaldo out. He can play 90 minutes, no problem."

"He is an influential figure, he opens up space, in a dead ball situation, anything inside the penalty area, it doesn't make sense (to replace him). In injury time it might make more sense to use Goncalo Ramos."

"However, we have to maintain the structure of the game, not that we have to pull out our top scorer for 90 minutes," he said.