"Manages to have simplicity within the selection" - Roberto Martinez details Cristiano Ronaldo's impact in the Portugal national team

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has spoken about Cristiano Ronaldo, hailing the national team captain for setting an example for his teammates. He said that the Al-Nassr forward continues to keep calm in training and remains focused, which keeps him going.

Speaking to the media in Portugal, Martinez said Ronaldo is an icon, but that is not the reason he remains in the national team squad. He claimed that the forward continues to set the standards and push the teammates to match him, and said (via Bola Na Rede):

"What happens around Cristiano is a historic aspect. He is an icon of world football, but that does not condition or limit our work. Cristiano is very calm and very focused on the day-to-day and that is a simple formula. When Cristiano Ronaldo is well, he is very important for the national team."

"We follow what he is doing every day. He is enjoying it a lot. He has a mark worldwide, but for us he manages to have simplicity within the national team. His focus is an example to follow. He found a process of focusing on the day-to-day and the consequence of that is to reach the next World Cup."

Martinez added that Ronaldo keeps showing why he is the captain and said:

"I love the commitment of the players and Cristiano is our captain because he deserves to be our captain. We are prepared, I am prepared, the coaching staff is prepared, the players are prepared."

Cristiano Ronaldo played a key role in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which helped the UEFA Nations League winners qualify for the summer tournament.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo backed to reach 1000 goals by Roberto Martinez

Roberto Martinez spoke about Cristiano Ronaldo's chances of scoring 1000 goals in his career and said that the forward has all the momentum to get there. He added that it is unlikely to stop the Portugal captain and said (via O Jogo):

"He is in a very good moment of his career. And he achieved this because he lives day by day. When he talks about his goals, he strays far from the long term: reaching 1000, playing a certain number of games... Your secret is to be the best today and enjoy the day to day. So, the number will be a consequence of the day he decides to stop. I don't think it's a goal."

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently on 958 goals in his career for club and country.