Roberto Martinez and the Belgian national team will be at the 2026 World Cup this summer. However, for the first time since the 2018 World Cup in Russia, they won’t be together. Martinez will be trying to guide Portugal to a World Cup victory that would be a crowning moment for star player Cristiano Ronaldo. Martinez is no stranger to expectations and the term golden generation, as he was in charge of what many consider to be the most talented Belgian side to have graced the field.
In an interview with the BBC, Martinez reflected on his time in charge of the Red Devils. Martinez was given the job of trying to win a trophy for the Belgian golden generation in 2016. Prior to this he had impressed during his time with Swansea City, Wigan Athletic and Everton. With Wigan, Martinez had kept them in the Premier League on multiple occasions and won them the FC Cup in 2013. However, as he told the BBC, he wanted a change in 2016. Martinez said ‘I became national coach mainly because I wanted to experience a World Cup, but I enjoyed it so much that I stayed on for ten years’.
During those 10 years, his crowning achievement was during the 2018 World Cup when Belgium reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual winners France. They went on to win the bronze medal and received a heroes welcome back in Brussels. Speaking of that tournament, Martinez said ‘The 2018 World Cup was such a beautiful journey. If I could relive just one match, it would be that semi-final against France. We lost 1-0, but for me, we were the better team, and the match was decided by a single action. If I could relive just one match to try and change it, it would be that one’.
In many ways, that 2018 semi-final was considered to be a clash of the two best teams at the tournament. Regardless of the outcome between England and Croatia in the other semi-final, the winner of Belgium v France would have expected to lift the trophy. Sadly for the Red Devils, they lost and it was the brilliant French side who won the tournament.
In 2026, expectations for Belgium will be much lower than they were during Martinez’ tenure. His Portugal side will be outsiders as well, although for Ronaldo the World Cup is the one trophy he is missing. Given that his main rival Lionel Messi won the tournament in 2022, Ronaldo will be desperate to get his hands on the trophy. With his advancing years, this may be the last real chance he has to do so.