Roberto Martinez has revealed what makes Cristiano Ronaldo special, with Portugal’s national team boss explaining the GOAT mentality that has allowed CR7 to break all kinds of records. The legendary forward is still going strong at 40 years of age, with Adebayo Akinfenwa’s ‘Beast Mode On’ podcast being informed of why a unique character has been able to enjoy such longevity.

• Ronaldo targets: 1,000 goals and 2026 World Cup

  Ronaldo has spent more than two decades at the peak of his powers, with a remarkable international career seeing him collect 226 caps while registering 143 goals. He has been locked in a relentless battle for recognition and major prizes with eternal rival Lionel Messi, with that competition helping to bring the best out of both.

  There is no sign of Ronaldo slowing down, with a new contract through to 2027 being signed in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr. He is determined to reach 1,000 competitive goals and will captain his country when gracing a sixth World Cup finals in 2026.

  Ronaldo has raised the bar of individual brilliance to a height that few will ever get close to reaching, with iconic spells being taken in at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. He is one of a kind, with unwavering belief and determination having carried him to the very top.

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• Unique talent: What makes Ronaldo the GOAT?

  Quizzed on what sets Ronaldo apart, Martinez told : “For me, without doubt, it is because his success doesn’t change his commitment to the next thing. When you win something, the next day there is less hunger. Cristiano is a person, is a player that whatever happens yesterday doesn’t affect what he does today.

  “I don’t know if it’s genetic, if you can work on it, this is the reality. He has got this incredible need to use every day to be the best that he can. That could be in terms of recovering, the training, finishing, whatever aspect that he feels he needs to work on. He is not going to leave anything that he can affect and become better. It doesn’t matter if he scores a hat-trick or he doesn’t score and missed three chances, his preparation as soon as the final whistle goes will always be methodical and perfectly preparing for the next day. That’s something that has given him longevity.

  “I always said that the footballer was retiring when the body was telling the brain ‘Look, I’m finished’. With Cristiano, I have learned it’s not like that. It’s the brain that tells the body it’s time to finish. He has got this capacity of wanting to be the best every day that he is involved in sport. I have never seen that hunger ever before at the same level.”

• Special treatment: Portugal block out Ronaldo 'noise'

  Martinez currently boasts the honour of working with Ronaldo. Asked what that is like and whether the all-time great enjoys any special treatment, the 52-year-old Spaniard said: “First and foremost, you have to treat every player, individually, in a separate way. There are no two people that are the same.

  “Obviously you have got Cristiano Ronaldo the player, that is in the dressing room and is somebody that wants to prepare in the best possible way because what he has done in his career – the longevity – is because he is meticulous, he is a winner, he is a hungry individual. You need to match that.

  “What is important is always to get the expectations of every single player in the space that we are working with. Then there is another phenomenon that you cannot control – that noise. You are talking about somebody that is more than a footballer, somebody who the numbers in social media represent that he is followed well beyond football fans – you are talking about 600 million followers. He is probably the most famous individual in the world. That doesn’t come along to what is our demand in the dressing room, and his demands.

  “We always need to get the best of our players and you need to create an environment that he gets that. The rest you need to recognise as noise and if it doesn’t affect the group internally, you need to accept it for what it is. You cannot lose time on trying to change that because it is impossible to control.”

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  Inspirational figure: Ronaldo demands nothing but the best

  Ronaldo is now held up as an inspiration to those around him, but knows that he still has to fight for his place. Martinez went on to say: “You always try to gather inspiration, stimulation, by people in sport that have achieved something that nobody has achieved before. He is a very clear example of that. He has got landmarks, playing over 225 games for a national team – no other has done it – his goalscoring record, what he has had many times in his career – 21 years of service in the national team – those are given examples for the players that are now sharing the dressing room.

  “What is important is his commitment to the team. That is what is essential, to measure that because it gets to a point that the competition for places is the same for everybody. At the level of a national team, constantly your position is at risk.”

  Ronaldo will, fitness permitting, form part of Portugal’s plans at next summer’s World Cup. He is a two-time UEFA Nations League winner, with a European Championship title to his name from 2016, and will be determined to emulate Messi by capturing a global crown before history-making boots are hung up for good.

Bavuma and Esterhuizen also struck half-centuries in what was the sixth-highest successful chase in India

Shashank Kishore09-Nov-2025

Connor Esterhuizen showcased his impressive game against spin in a bludgeoning 52 not out that helped South Africa A beat fading light to chase down 417 five wickets in hand against India A at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. This was the highest fourth-innings chase in a first-class game in India since 2016, and the sixth-highest ever in the country.Esterhuizen’s innings comprised eight fours and a six, as he helped South Africa A convert a tricky chase in the final hour into a cruise. His unbroken sixth-wicket partnership with Tiaan van Vuuren was worth 65 off just 52 balls.While Esterhuizen delivered the knockout blow to India A, the chase was set up by Lesego Senokwane and Jordan Hermann. The openers put on 156, much of it during the course of a wicketless morning session where they took the attack to Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.Even Kuldeep Yadav wasn’t spared, but it also helped South Africa A that he was far from his best on a surface that didn’t aid spin as much as he would have hoped for. With the surface showing no signs of breaking down, Kuldeep hardly found turn and was easily picked off as Senokwane and Hermann didn’t allow him to settle. When he went full, he was imperiously driven. When he bowled shorter, the turn was so slow that it gave batters enough time to play him comfortably off the back foot.Hermann did the early running when he hammered an off-colour Akash Deep for four boundaries – an off-drive, two cover drives, and a square drive behind point. He soon got to his half-century, off 73 deliveries. India A’s frustration stemmed from the edges not carrying. The lateral movement that was there on the first two days and a bit also went missing.Jordan Hermann scored 91•PTI

Senokwane soon followed suit, albeit sedately, getting to his half-century off 113 deliveries. Having played cautiously against the fast bowlers, he was severe on left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, whom he welcomed with a superb slog sweep. Hermann was equally punishing, using the paddle sweep as Dubey struggled to vary his pace – he was guilty of bowling too quickly.Hermann had a slice of luck on 66 when a rip-roaring bouncer that rushed him for pace lobbed off the glove only to land behind Rishabh Pant as he ran backwards. But even half-chances like those were far and few in between.Prasidh provided the breakthrough when Hermann smashed a full toss back towards the bowler. Fortunately for India A, it got stuck in Prasidh’s hand and Hermann had to walk back for 91. The wicket briefly fired India A’s seamers, Siraj, in particular, as he delivered a telling spell in the afternoon, beating Senokwane a handful of times and then exchanging some words with him.All that seemed to have affected Senokwane as he was lulled into a sweep that he missed and was lbw to Dubey on 77. This brought Zubayr Hamza and Temba Bavuma to the crease – the only two batters from this squad to feature in the Test squad – and they added 107 for the third wicket to bring the target in the double digits.Having bagged a first-ball duck in the first innings, Bavuma was more sedate and copybook in his approach; Hamza was a bit more enterprising and looked to take the bowlers on from the get-go to make a push for the target.In between, India A had a scare when Siraj hurt himself trying to stop the ball at mid-off and immediately rushed off the field for treatment. Pant too didn’t keep for two sessions with Jurel taking over the gloves. It was established much later that the decision to take Pant off the field was keeping in mind the workload he has had over the past two games – with both bat and gloves.Hamza fell when he got an inside edge onto the stumps off Prasidh, and Bavuma fell soon after. India A had an opening with the visitors needing 89 when Marques Ackerman was bounced out by Siraj, only for replays to confirm the bowler had overstepped. Ackerman was eventually caught behind for 24 to bring Esterhuizen to the crease. The mood of the game changed considerably thereafter as he took the attack to Kuldeep and Dubey to seal victory in fading light.

Cristiano Ronaldo could, if he extends his international career beyond the 2026 World Cup, be in line for a reunion with Jose Mourinho. That is because the self-anointed ‘Special One’ is considered to be a guaranteed pick as next manager of the Portugal national team. Mourinho is currently with Benfica, with his recent struggles on the trophy-winning front being explained.

When did Mourinho last win a major trophy?

Mourinho is one of the most decorated coaches to have ever graced a dugout, with the Champions League crown being captured with Porto and Inter. He has also landed domestic titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain.

Memorable spells have been taken in as boss of Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid, while also spending time with Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma and Fenerbahce. Mourinho returned to his roots in September when taking over at Benfica.

The 62-year-old has lost none of his appetite for success, but last hoisted major silverware aloft in 2022 when Roma captured the Conference League crown. The Portuguese league title is in danger of slipping out of reach this season, as Benfica sit nine points off the pace, meaning that a barren run on the silverware front could extend to four years.

AdvertisementAFPIs Mourinho still special? Trophy toil explained

Quizzed on whether Mourinho is as ‘special’ as he once was, former Porto midfielder Pedro Mendes – speaking to Boyle Sports, who offer the latest Football Betting – said: “Well, at the time it was different. He was one of a kind. It was really a pleasure to work under him, under his command. But football changed a lot. A lot of things changed in football. New managers, new ideas, new football approaches, new game approaches, new systems that we never heard of in the past.

“But what I can see hasn’t changed is his presence, his speech, the way he faces the press, the way he talks to the players, the way he talks to the press regarding his players. I can see that has never changed. Recently he has struggled a little bit, but that's a sign of the times.”

Next Portugal manager: Mourinho tipped to take the reins

It remains to be seen how long Mourinho will remain in club management, as questions of his methods – and whether they are becoming slightly outdated – begin to mount in intensity. He is tied to a contract at Benfica through to the summer of 2027.

Mourinho has never hidden the fact that he would like to manage Portugal at some point, with that role currently being filled by Roberto Martinez. How long the Spaniard remains in that post could be determined by performances at the 2026 World Cup.

Mendes expects Mourinho to step in eventually, saying: “Everyone in football in Portugal believes that one day Jose Mourinho will be our national team manager. When he was out of a job, I don't know if Roberto Martinez had failed somehow, he could have jumped in straight away, but Roberto Martínez won one of the Nations League tournaments and he's doing a fantastic job now for the World Cup qualifiers.

“Jose Mourinho just signed for Benfica a few months ago, so we need to wait on that. But I think one day he will. I think he will. I think he also has this desire.”

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Getty2030 World Cup: How long will Ronaldo play on for?

Taking the reins with Portugal could see Mourinho work with Ronaldo again, with the pair having previously spent three years together at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013. CR7 is showing no sign of slowing down at 40 years of age.

Remarkable individual standards are being maintained at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, with more Golden Boots being secured in the Middle East, while 1,000 career goals remain an obvious target for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Ronaldo has reached 226 caps and 143 goals for his country, over the course of a 22-year international career, and is expected to grace next summer’s World Cup. It has even been suggested that the evergreen frontman could play on to Euro 2028 and another global gathering on home soil in 2030 – which would give him the chance to work under Mourinho again.

Stats highlights from Navi Mumbai, where India completed the highest-ever chase at the Women’s ODI World Cup

Sampath Bandarupalli30-Oct-2025339 The target chased by India against Australia in the semi-final. It is the highest-ever chase in women’s ODI cricket, bettering the 331-run chase by Australia against India earlier in the tournament in Visakhapatnam.India’s previous highest successful chase was 265 against Australia in 2021, and they had never chased a 200-plus target at a World Cup.15 Consecutive wins for Australia at the Women’s ODI World Cup, coming into Thursday’s semi-final. Their previous defeat was also against India, in the semi-final in 2017.Related

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It is the joint-longest winning streak for any team in the Women’s ODI World Cup, equaling Australia’s earlier streak of 15 wins between 1993 and 2000.341 for 5 India’s total in the chase is their highest at the Women’s ODI World Cup, a run more than the 340 for 3 they posted against New Zealand in Navi Mumbai last week.It is also the second-highest total by any team against Australia in women’s ODIs, behind their 369 in Delhi last month. In fact, that is the only total in a women’s ODI chase higher than India’s 341 on Thursday.679 Runs by India and Australia on Thursday in Navi Mumbai, making it the highest aggregate for a Women’s ODI World Cup game. The previous most were 678 runs between England and South Africa at Bristol in 2017.The 679 runs are also the second-most for any women’s ODI, behind the 781 runs in last month’s Delhi ODI, also featuring India and Australia.3 Number of successful chases of 300-plus targets in a knock-out match across men’s and women’s ODIs. The previous two were by India in men’s ODIs, who chased 315 against Pakistan in the third final of the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup in 1998 and 326 against England in the 2002 NatWest tri-series final.127* Jemimah Rodrigues’ score against Australia is the highest for India in an ODI chase, bettering the 125 by Smriti Mandhana, also against Australia last month in Delhi.167 Partnership between Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur for the third wicket – the highest by any pair against Australia at the Women’s ODI World Cup.It is also the third-highest partnership against Australia in all women’s ODIs and the highest for the third wicket.3 Fifty-plus scores for Harmanpreet in the three knockout matches she has played in the Women’s ODI World Cup. Only Belinda Clark, with four, has more fifty-plus scores in World Cup knockouts than Harmanpreet.Harmanpreet aggregated 311 runs across those three games, the second-most in Women’s ODI World Cup knockouts, behind Clark’s 330 runs.Hug it out: Smriti Mandhana congratulated Jemimah Rodrigues after India’s epic chase•ICC/Getty Images77 Balls Phoebe Litchfield needed for her century against India, the fastest in any knockout game in women’s ODIs. The previous quickest was off 90 balls, by Harmanpreet against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final and by Nat Sciver-Brunt against Australia in the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup final.Litchfield is also the youngest batter to score a hundred in a knockout match in women’s ODIs.23.3 Overs bowled by Australia’s spinners in the semi-final. They also conceded 157 runs without taking a wicket. These are the most overs the spinners have ever bowled in a women’s ODI while being wicketless. The previous highest by Australian spinners was the 23 overs against New Zealand in 2012 at SCG.0 The 2025 edition will be the first Women’s ODI World Cup final to not feature either Australia or England. At least one of the two teams have featured in all the previous editions of the World Cup which have had a final.

Quite simply, Liverpool have been a shambles in defence this season. Arne Slot’s side have a slew of problems, mounting by the matchweek, but the crux of it comes down to disorganised, error-strewn defending.

Five defeats from six Premier League games, nine losses from 12 in all competitions, successive Anfield defeats against Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven, seven goals shipped, this is a crisis for the Reds.

It beggars belief. And right at the struggling heart of it is Ibrahima Konate, whose future on Merseyside is very much up in the air.

Ibrahima Konate's Liverpool future

It really cannot be understated how dismal Konate has been throughout the 2025/26 campaign. He has been indescribably weak in key battles, his resolve far too brittle.

Errors have littered the France international’s campaign, and Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher even suggested that it has been a “sackable offence” on Slot’s part for continuing to field the 26-year-old after such consistent inconsistency.

It’s clear that the centre-back’s contractual conundrum, out of a deal next summer, has been weighing heavily on his mind, especially since Real Madrid have made their vested interest known over the past year.

However, the £70k-per-week defender has been so unconvincing that Los Blancos have ended their pursuit. Liverpool remain committed to renewing their struggling star’s deal, even with interest from further suitors sure to intensify come January.

There is surely a way back to the ascendancy for a player who served so confidently in a title-winning campaign, but with Virgil van Dijk getting old, it’s clear that FSG need to find new defenders regardless.

There’s no doubt that sporting director Richard Hughes will feel rueful after missing out on Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, a deal effectively in place on deadline day and the Three Lions star ready to complete his medical before the Eagles failed to source a replacement.

However, there is another who could end up succeeding Konate, though this Liverpool prospect has endured a tough start to his career at the club.

Liverpool have a teenage Konate upgrade

Liverpool’s dearth of defensive options this season have meant that Slot has been unable to drop Konate and bring in another. However, Giovanni Leoni was slated to be that man.

Leoni, 18, joined Liverpool from Serie A side Parma this summer in a £27m deal, Hughes drawn to his potential to become one of the best in the business. The Italian is powerful, dynamic and prodigiously talented on the ball, with his long and limber frame making him the perfect fit in the Premier League.

However, disaster struck on his debut in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win over Southampton, when Leoni ruptured his ACL, sidelining him until the end of the season.

It was only one fixture – and against second-tier opponents at that – but Leoni showed a lot of promise for his new club, very much at place on the ball and winning four of five contested duels, including each of his three aerial battles.

It was the kind of display that proved Leoni is “one of the best young centre-backs in the world”, something noted by Liverpool reporter James Wathland as the fanbase chews on their frustration over losing such a shrewd defensive solution for the campaign.

Minutes played

81′

Touches

102

Accurate passes

88/91 (97%)

Possession lost

3x

Recoveries

3

Tackles won

0/1

Interceptions

3

Clearances

6

Ground duels

1/2

Aerial duels

3/3

Liverpool’s defenders are often tasked with initiating forward moves from the back, and while Leoni is not refined in this regard, there is undeniable promise that Slot and Liverpool’s coaching team will be developing even in the teenager’s period of convalescence.

Liverpool have a sensational defensive talent in their mix, and while fans won’t be able to witness him in action again until the latter months of 2026, they can rest assured that Leoni has what it takes to reach superstar status down the line.

This may be considered when Hughes and co weigh up Konate’s value and whether they should extend his time on Merseyside for his prime years.

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