Roberto Martinez finds himself facing mounting criticism from analysts and fans. Following Portugal‘s lackluster performance against a determined DR Congo in their opening match of the World Cup 2026, many have voiced concerns that he is squandering another golden generation of talent. While it’s true that tournaments aren’t decided after a single match, Martinez and Portugal have a long road ahead to rectify their course. Admitting that Ronaldo is past his peak could be beneficial, but it would take a bold manager to make such a decision early in the tournament.
Despite what some players may think, it’s hard to deny that Belgium had its own golden generation. Players like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku were in their prime together and ranked among the world’s top players. They also featured the world’s best goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, and an experienced backline including Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.
Many believe that Martinez ‘ruined’ the Belgian golden generation. However, is this assessment accurate? Many attribute Belgium’s shocking exit in the quarter-finals of the 2016 Euros to Martinez, when they were unexpectedly defeated by Wales—a setback that marred the golden generation’s record. Belgium should have reached the semi-finals, or perhaps even claimed victory.
However, if we examine that tournament closely, we see that Martinez was not involved; he was not in the dugout, and the defeat is often mistakenly linked to him. Instead, Marc Wilmotts was the manager at that time and oversaw one of the most disappointing exits in Belgian football history. After Wilmotts, Martinez took over and enjoyed considerable success in his debut tournament in charge.
In the 2018 World Cup, Belgium reached the semi-finals, where they faced the French team that ultimately won the tournament. That match is often regarded as the true final of the tournament. Whichever team emerged victorious would likely have proven too strong for Croatia in the final, as they were the top two teams in the world at that time. Belgium finished third and was heralded as heroes upon their return home. It’s easy to overlook the fact that while Belgium has produced incredible football talent, they are not a traditional powerhouse in international football, and making it to the semi-finals of a World Cup is a significant achievement. Few can argue that Martinez failed them during the 2018 tournament.
However, he certainly faced criticism for the subsequent tournaments. Belgium’s performance in the delayed Euro 2020 saw them exit to Italy, a team that would ultimately win the competition. Belgium had a superior squad and could have performed better. While they might have faced Spain in the semi-finals, reaching the final four was the absolute minimum for a team that was at its peak at that time.
Qatar 2022, however, was a complete disaster. The golden generation appeared past their prime and faltered, being eliminated in the group stage. Martinez opted to stick with this aging team for one last tournament—a choice that many would have made considering their past accomplishments in 2018. Unfortunately, it ended in disappointment.
Removing 2018 from the equation does support the argument that Martinez wasted Belgium’s ‘golden generation.’ However, that year cannot be overlooked; it was arguably Belgium’s closest encounter with major tournament glory, even if they had reached the semi-finals previously. They put up a valiant fight against a formidable French side in a memorable match that will linger in the memories of both nations.
It’s also crucial to recognize that the nature of tournament football can be unpredictable, which is what makes it so captivating. England boasted a fantastic generation of players in the 2000s but failed to reach a single semi-final. It is impossible to determine if a different coach could have delivered better results for Belgium. The 2016 tournament showed that even without Martinez, this golden generation was not guaranteed a place in the semi-finals or finals. While there will always be regrets about not reaching a major final, many will place the blame squarely on Martinez. Ultimately, this is the nature of football: managers are often judged more critically than players and typically leave the role with more scrutiny than accolades.