Portugal Coach: Cristiano Ronaldo Has Changed! Less Focused on 1000 Goals, More on Assisting Teammates

Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez spoke on the podcast The Overlap about a notable shift in the mindset of Portugal’s star, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Martínez said: “Cristiano’s career has gone through several stages. At one point, he was obsessed with being the top scorer, striving for personal records. But now, things have changed. I remember during the European Championship match against Turkey, he didn’t take the shot himself—he passed to Bruno Fernandes. That assist had a greater impact in the locker room than any goal he could have scored. Although he didn’t score in that tournament, sparking discussions and noise, that assist carried far more weight in the minds of his teammates.”

Ronaldo has currently scored 965 career goals, with the 1000-goal milestone long considered a key target. Martínez noted: “People always talk about 1000 goals, but Cristiano no longer cares about that number. Whether it’s 950 or 1050 goals, it doesn’t change who he is. He now values creating space for teammates at the right moments and stepping up to score when needed, rather than always chasing the title of top scorer.”

Martínez also highlighted Ronaldo’s unique stature in football: “He’s a constant topic everywhere—even in an elevator, people have opinions about him. I once had this conversation in a taxi. The driver asked how the team was doing, and when I mentioned we drew with Spain, he said, ‘With Ronaldo, how can you possibly win?’ I said we won on penalties, and he replied, ‘See, that’s Ronaldo’s experience.’ That’s the point—when the team wins, everyone credits Ronaldo’s experience; when they lose, people question why he’s even playing.”