Roberto Martinez steps down as Portugal manager after 1-0 loss to Spain in FIFA World Cup round of 16
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Martinez only won the UEFA Nations League with A Seleção das Quinas.
Roberto Martinez has declared that he will leave his position as Portugal’s coach following Monday’s 1-0 FIFA World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Spain, disputing that the outcome was “a failure.”
Replacement Mikel Merino struck in the 90th minute at AT&T Stadium to advance Spain to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo made his farewell World Cup appearance.
Roberto Martínez assumed the managerial role of Portugal in 2023. His contract was set to end following the event.
Also read: Will Cristiano Ronaldo retire after Portugal’s exit from FIFA World Cup 2026?
Roberto Martínez calls his time with Portugal after World Cup 2026 elimination
In a post-match press conference, he stated that it “wouldn’t make sense” to stay in the job after being ousted in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“Yes, this is my last game with the national team,” Martinez said.
“I’m proud. I’ve had 45 games, and I felt welcomed in Portugal, and loved. It’s a memory I’ll take with me always.
“It was a pleasure, a source of pride, and responsibility. It’s hard, but it’s the end of a cycle and in the context it makes absolute sense.”
Roberto Martinez formerly coached Belgium and managed Everton, Wigan, and Swansea City before taking over Portugal.
Portugal had one of the top rosters in the 2026 World Cup, featuring a midfield of Vitinha, João Neves, Bruno Fernandes, and Cristiano Ronaldo in attack — but Martínez claimed that dismissal in the round of 16 was a failure.
“We didn’t fail,” he said. “We lost a game, against a team that’s one of the favourites. We showed incredible individual talent. Winning or losing is about details in the big games, with big teams…You fail when you don’t try to win, and we tried to win until the last minute.”
Has Roberto Martínez won any trophies with Portugal?
He won the Nations League with them.
Are Portugal eliminated from the 2026 World Cup?
Yes, after Spain beat them 1-0 in the round of 16.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.