SUMMARY
- Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal had a World Cup to forget in Qatar, after losing to Morocco in the quarter-finals.
- CR7 was benched for the last two games, a decision that has sparked huge controversy.
Cristiano Ronaldo had a World Cup to forget in Qatar in 2022. The 5x Ballon d’Or winner failed to lead Portugal to victory at the prestigious tournament, whereas his longtime rival Lionel Messi lifted the trophy. Portugal made it past the group stages after finishing above South Korea, Uruguay, and Ghana. The European nation had won two out of their three games, losing to South Korea on the final matchday.
Ronaldo and Co. were set to face Switzerland in the Round of 16, but there was a twist that Fernando Santos, the manager at the time, had in mind. Santos decided to leave CR7 on the bench, shocking millions worldwide. It was the biggest stage in the soccer world and there was no reason to leave a player of Ronaldo’s caliber out of the starting lineup.
Santos’ questionable decision worked wonders, as Goncalo Ramos bagged a hat-trick, and Portugal breezed Switzerland, winning 6-1. However, Santos decided to leave Portugal’s top scorer on the bench once again, for the quarter-final clash against Morocco. Unfortunately for them, Morocco won the game 1-0, Youssef En-Nesyri’s 42nd minute goal. Santos made a desperate attempt to get back into the game by bringing on CR7, but it was to no avail.
The Portugal federation replaced Santos with Roberto Martinez, former manager of the Belgium National Team. Martinez will be leading Portugal into the upcoming Euros tournament, and has revealed that Ronaldo is in his plans. Whereas Santos, currently managing Besiktas, but has not backtracked one bit on his controversial decision.
Fernando Santos doesn’t regret benching Cristiano Ronaldo in the World Cup 😳 pic.twitter.com/Rk0nVaTf83
— GOAL (@goal) January 9, 2024
Recently, he said, “It was a tactical and technical decision. There was no other situation. Strategic decisions are always the most important things for me. I had to make these decisions and I made them correctly. If we had not been eliminated from the World Cup, there would have been no problem.” Santos remains steadfast in his belief that benching Ronaldo was the right way to face Morocco in the World Cup that year, a decision which still sparks controversy until today.
Even Portugal players couldn’t believe Fernando Santos’ decision to bench Cristiano Ronaldo
Goncalo Ramos was the player who led the attack for Portugal in Ronaldo’s absence. In the game against Switzerland, Santos placed Ramos up top alongside Joao Felix and Bruno Fernandes in a 4-3-3 formation. Portugal’s frontline proved to be too strong for Switzerland’s defense, but that was not the case against Morocco. Portugal’s best chances came from Fernandes, Felix, and Ronaldo, in the last minute.
The 5x UCL winner failed to convert his chance, and it might have been a few minutes too late when came on. Portugal could have surely used an aerial threat in the box against Morocco, which was missing.
Even Portugal players, Felix and others, couldn’t believe that Santos left out Ronaldo. Felix said to Spanish outlet AS in 2023, “We were surprised, because seeing Cristiano on the bench is not something you’re used to. But it was the gaffer’s decision: he’s the one who calls the shots. Cristiano reacted really well, because we were all pulling in the same direction and creating positive vibes.”
Felix also applauded Ronaldo’s reaction, especially considering his experience in soccer. Ronaldo may have lost his last chance to win the World Cup, but the Euro 2024 could be vital for the legend. He won it once with his country in 2016, and will surely be aiming to do so once again before he bids goodbye to international soccer.