Cristiano Ronaldo looks on from the bench. Photo / AP
Cristiano Ronaldo looks on from the bench. Photo / AP
It says a lot about Cristiano Ronaldo’s star power that even a thumping 6-1 win for Portugal won’t take the focus away from him.
Ronaldo was sensationally dropped for Portugal’s round of 16 clash with Switzerland after a subpar World Cup in Qatar.
Goncalo Ramos justified the shock decision to drop Ronaldo by scoring a hat-trick on his full debut as Portugal demolished Switzerland 6-1 to power into the World Cup quarter-finals.
The 21-year-old Ramos, who started instead of Ronaldo, became the youngest player to strike three times in a World Cup knockout match since Pele in 1958.
Ramos has now scored three goals in the knockout stages of a World Cup, while Ronaldo has none across more than 500 minutes.
Turns out Portugal are loads better without Ronaldo. Imagine if he had honest people around him rather than a load of sycophants… then he could be a decent option as a sub when needed.
It shouldn’t take anything away from his legacy - he will always be one of the greatest footballers of all time - but the last month has been so incredibly unceremonious for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos said he was unimpressed with Ronaldo’s behaviour after he reacted badly to being substituted during the final group stage game against the Korea Republic.
“I didn’t like it at all. I didn’t like it at all,” Santos said before the Switzerland clash.
Speaking after the 6-1 win, Santos revealed why he dropped Ronaldo, saying it was “strategic and nothing more”.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world playing professionally and as a captain ... so we have to just think about this team collectively,” he said.
Asked whether it was the most difficult decision of his career to leave out Ronaldo, Santos said: “I have a very close relationship I always have, known him since he was 19 at Sporting, and then for years here in the national squad,” he said.
“Ronaldo and I never confuse the human and personal aspect with the coach and player relationship. He is a very important player to have in the team,” he said.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) on the bench during the World Cup Round of 16 match against Switzerland. Photo / AP
Santos said he expected a “very difficult” game against Morocco in the quarter-finals but said his team were clearly in good form.
“If we can continue like this and improve some things then that is a good path,” he added.
But the truth is that Portugal look a better team without the 37-year-old forward.
Ronaldo came into the World Cup after a disjointed season with Manchester United, where he struggled to hold a place in the starting team.
The question is how does Ronaldo now react to this dumping?
The image of him walking straight off the field after the fulltime whistle wasn’t a great sign.
Ronaldo came on as a late substitute but walked straight off rather than celebrate with his teammates.
Former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville said the “sulking” from Ronaldo needs to stop.
“This is a manager who has got an unbelievable relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo for eight years and there are a lot of fans of Ronaldo who are not willing to tell him the truth,” Neville said on ITV before the game this morning.
“I think he does need to listen to the truth that it is becoming a little bit of a scruffy end ... the petulance, the stomping around, the sulking, it’s got to stop because it does not reflect well on him at all.
“His long-term legacy is set, he is one of the great all-time players.”
Ronaldo could still play a crucial role for Portugal in Qatar.
They face a Morocco team that’s only conceded one goal in four games, so having a star like Ronaldo on your bench isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Ronaldo has done something that no other male player may ever repeat - he’s scored at five straight World Cups.
Even playing at five World Cups is an achievement because it means you’re an international player for at least 16 years.
His legacy as one of the greatest of all time is assured. But how he reacts to his dumping could have a big say in just how far Portugal goes at this World Cup.
