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Roberto Martínez has announced he will not be staying on as Portugal's head coach following his side's round-of-16 World Cup elimination at the hands of Spain.
Portugal's knockout clash with their Iberian rivals looked to be heading toward extra time after a largely uneventful 90 minutes — until Spanish substitute Mikel Merino slipped in behind Martínez's backline in stoppage time, collecting a clever ball from Ferran Torres before slotting past Diogo Costa.
The reigning European champions will now take on Belgium in the quarterfinals, looking to recapture the dominance they showed between 2008 and 2012, while Portugal heads home from North America with the painful feeling that a gifted generation of players has been squandered.
A disappointing chapter has now come to an end, though Cristiano Ronaldo's story continues. Despite the 41-year-old suggesting before Monday's game that this would be his final World Cup, he has yet to make a definitive decision about his future with the national side.
'Wouldn't Make Sense'—Roberto Martínez Leaves Portugal Post
Martínez was handed the Portugal job following their quarterfinal exit to Morocco at the Qatar World Cup, despite a largely underwhelming stint in charge of Belgium's celebrated 'golden generation.'
His time in charge yielded the UEFA Nations League title in 2025, but also two major tournament letdowns. Given the caliber of players available to him, it's difficult to argue that Martínez delivered on expectations.
The Spaniard's deal was set to run until the end of the World Cup, and the 52-year-old confirmed after Portugal's exit in Dallas that he would not be carrying on as national team manager.
"Yes, this is my last game with the national team," Martínez told reporters after the match. "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."
Portugal will now shift focus toward the next World Cup, which they will co-host alongside Spain and Morocco in the summer of 2030.
What Went Wrong for Portugal at the World Cup?
While Martínez maintained that his team "didn't fail" in North America, there's no escaping the fact that Portugal underperformed. They were held by DR Congo and fortunate to salvage a scoreless draw against Colombia, ultimately finishing second in Group K and facing a difficult path to the final.
Croatia was narrowly overcome in the round of 32, and while Spain always represented a stern challenge, Portugal might have drawn confidence from their Nations League final victory the previous year.
Instead, Martínez's Portugal put in a timid and uninspiring display. His tactical approach was overly cautious, failing to unlock the full potential of a talented midfield. Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes were particularly stifled, with Martínez directing his side away from central play and toward wide build-up patterns.
Rafael Leão was Portugal's brightest spark against Croatia but found himself relegated to the bench for the Spain fixture. Leão had set up Gonçalo Ramos for the decisive goal in the round of 32, yet the Paris Saint-Germain forward was left watching from the sidelines as Martínez continued to accommodate a Ronaldo who was clearly well past his best.
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The 41-year-old featured for the full duration of all but one of Portugal's matches at the tournament, including Monday's defeat. Martínez appeared blinded by Ronaldo's legendary status and failed to see how catering to his outsized ego was holding back what could have been a formidable team effort.
Across two tournaments, Portugal failed to score in three of their four knockout stage matches. Ronaldo has little more than a penalty to show for his efforts in World Cup knockout football. The time for change has arrived.