Portugal manager Roberto Martinez emphasized that no final decisions have been made regarding the international futures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe following their Euro 2024 quarter-final loss to France.
Despite their emotional embrace on the pitch after the match, Martinez stated that any decisions about their roles with the national team will be considered after the team has had time to recover from the disappointment of their defeat.
Both players have been a regular feature in the Portugal side throughout the tournament, with 39-year-old Ronaldo playing every minute of both the shootout win over Slovenia in the last 16 and the defeat on penalties by France in the quarter-finals.
Pepe made history at the tournament, becoming the oldest player in European Championship history aged 41.
“His tears are frustration,” said Martinez. “Pepe is a role model in Portuguese football. What he did tonight and in the tournament will stay with us for the next generations.”
When asked whether the two players had just featured for Portugal for the final time, Martinez answered: “No. Everything is too raw. We are still suffering the defeat.
“There’s no individual decisions at this point”