Portugal's System Under Martínez: Not Just Ronaldo
How Portugal have evolved beyond their Ronaldo dependency.
Roberto Martínez has built a Portugal system that maximizes Bruno Fernandes as the primary creative force while giving Ronaldo a specific goal-threat role rather than an all-phases involvement. Fernandes operates as a number 10 who drops into midfield to receive and advance — a function that generates progressive play more reliably than the Ronaldo-as-creator system that previous Portugal coaches attempted.
Vitinha's role in the double pivot is significant. His ability to win possession in midfield pressing situations means Portugal can be aggressive in the middle third — which is the opposite of what Colombia want against them. If Portugal can win the midfield battle early, they limit Colombia's ability to build attacks from the back and force them into direct play where Portugal's center backs are comfortable.
Ronaldo at 41 years old is a set-piece and penalty box presence rather than a pressing forward. The specific version of Ronaldo that Portugal bring to 2026 is not the 2014 version — he is a goal-threat in tight areas, from crosses, from set pieces. His involvement in open-play build-up is minimal. This is tactically sensible from Martínez — Ronaldo's movement in the penalty area remains elite; his pressing and wide play capacity does not.