Roberto Martinez knows how Cristiano Ronaldo will respond after bursting into tears

Cristiano Ronaldo will be the first to hold his hands up after his emotional display against Slovenia if Roberto Martinez’s previous comments are anything to go by. The 39-year-old Portuguese star was reduced to tears after failing to convert a crucial penalty during extra time in Monday’s last-16 clash, after which his team-mates were seen comforting him.

However, his blushes were spared when his team triumphed in the subsequent penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Diogo Costa saving all three Slovenian attempts. After successfully scoring the first penalty for his team, Ronaldo made an apologetic gesture towards the fans, and judging by comments Portugal boss Martinez made to Rio Ferdinand last month, he probably did the same to his team-mates post-match.

The former Everton manager acknowledged Ronaldo’s emotional nature but also highlighted his ability to identify when things have gone awry. “When you’ve got individuals who are elite, they are perfectionists,” Martinez stated.

“And sometimes they’re going to be triggered by aspects that they’re not happy with. It’s very difficult for an individual who is so different to the others, sometimes they get disappointed with the players around them, and I think that’s totally understandable.”

He added: “When you see a player that lets emotions take control of him, when they see it back they are the first ones to say, ‘Wow, I shouldn’t do that’. These are aspects you need to work [on], this is controlling emotions.”

Ronaldo hasn’t scored at Euro 2024 yet and came under fire for seemingly going out of his way to try and end his dry spell against Slovenia. He wasted several good chances during the game, including numerous free kicks which were blazed over the bar, bringing his shot count for the tournament to 20 – more than any other player.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker opened up post-match, revealing that this would indeed be his final appearance in the European Championship; though, made sure to clarify that his emotional scene wasn’t related.

“It is, without doubt, my last European Championship,” Ronaldo admitted to O Jogo, before rapidly dismissing any ideas that his personal sentiment stemmed from that fact alone. “But I’m not emotional about that. I’m moved by all that football means – by the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm for seeing my supporters, my family, the affection people have for me.”

He continued, “It’s not about leaving football, because if I do, what else would I need to do or win? It won’t be about getting one more point or one less point. Making people happy is what motivates me the most.”

Ronaldo has at least one more crack at scoring at the Euros, providing Martinez keeps him in the line-up, with Portugal facing France in the quarters on Friday. If he finds the net he’ll become the oldest goal scorer in the competition’s history.