World Cup 2022: Cristiano Ronaldo breaks silence on being benched for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence on being benched for Portugal’s last 16 knock-out clash with Switzerland amid a host of footballing greats urging the megastar to change his attitude.

Ronaldon was on the bench for 70 mins

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence on being benched for Portugal’s last 16 knock-out clash with Switzerland amid a host of footballing greats urging the megastar to change his attitude.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos dropped Ronaldo for the clash - a move which sent shockwaves around the world but was ultimately vindicated as they ran out 6-1 winners.

While many assumed the snub was owing to Ronaldo’s ‘sulk’ after he was subbed off against South Korea in the group stages, Santos maintained it was purely “strategic and nothing more.”

Ronaldo came on with 20 minutes to play against Switzerland finding the back of the net almost immediately before it was ruled offside by VAR.

Breaking his silence on the match, result and Santos’ selection, Ronaldo said: “Incredible day for Portugal, with a historic result in the biggest competition in world football.

“Luxury exhibition of a team full of talent and youth. Our Selection is to be congratulated.

“The dream is alive! Until the end! Strength, Portugal!”

PULL YOUR HEAD IN

A host of footballing greats have taken aim at Ronaldo for his attitude and behaviour at the World Cup warning his reputation and legacy are at risk.

Portugal played the best football they have in a very long time against Switzerland - without the under fire megastar with many believing he is no longer a guaranteed starter.

“I said that it was closed and it was closed. 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,” Sansot 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.

“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.”

Portugal’s hat-trick hero Goncalo Ramos said he had not even dreamt of starting a World Cup knockout match, let alone scoring three in his first start in the tournament.

Ramos was handed a start ahead of Ronaldo and rewarded coach Fernando Santos with a brilliant matchwinning display.

Ronaldo reacts as he sits on the bench

Ronaldo on the bench

“Not even in my wildest dreams did I think of making my first start in a World Cup knockout game and scoring three goals,” he said.

The 21-year-old striker was asked how the dressing room -- and Ronaldo -- had reacted to the surprise team selection from Santos.

“Honestly no one in the team talked about it. Cristiano, as captain did what he does, he helped, he talked to us, not only to myself but to my teammates,” he said.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has always been a role model, he is an idol for many. I also like (Robert) Lewandowski and (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic.”

CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE

Former Manchester United defender turned football pundit Gary Neville said Ronaldo needed to change his attitude before he permanently tarnishes his legacy.

Ronaldo walked out on Juventus in 2021 before having his Man United contract terminated last month with his behaviour and ego now the focus of enormous criticism.

“His long term legacy is set, it’s protected, he’s one of the great all-time players,” Neville said.

“But in the short-term he’s got to do a lot better because is the Juventus manager wrong? Is the Manchester United wrong and now is the Portugal manager wrong?

“Ten Hag didn’t want him in the team because he thought he was better without him, does the Portugal coach feel the same?”

Portugal's forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo pours water on his head

Neville is not the only ex international taking aim at Ronaldo.

“As great as he is, it’s a team game and it comes to this stage now where he’s not been playing well for the last few years it’s not ending well,” former Arsenal star Ian Wright said.

“It’s ending acrimoniously and it seems to me like he’s not enjoying it at the minute.

“He doesn’t look happy. It’s a sad situation because you look at everybody - I don’t know when was the last time he heard no. How many times has he heard no in his life? It feels like that to me.”

Ex-Netherlands star Nigel de Jong shared his concerns for Ronaldo’s legacy saying he needs to ensure he steps back from things with a good level of grace.

“What I wanted to add is that as big of a player as Ronaldo is, you have to leave the stage with grace,’ De Jong said.

“We’ve seen that with Zidane and all the greats before him, they leave with grace and you don’t want to see this from one the best footballers of the last two decades.

“You can see already that he’s irritated and you can tell by the way he’s behaving in the last couple of months. His team has the chance to make it to the latter stages but he just has to be the bigger man, be a leader in the dressing room regardless of his own situation, but it’s really hard to do for him.

“I don’t think he can accept the fact that he’s not playing.”

PORTUGAL ARE BETTER WITHOUT RONALDO

Cristiano Ronaldo is not a starter anymore and Portugal are a better side without him.

His power is diminishing and his younger teammates are just simply better options.

It’s the bitter pill the megastar is going to have to accept if his career is going to continue.

Ronaldo was benched for Portugal’s last 16 clash with Switzerland with Gonçalo Ramos called in to replace him.

It was a bold decision from the coach but the right one with the 21-year-old coming on and scoring a hat-trick on his World Cup debut that finished 6-1 in Portugal’s favour.

An incredible display from the entire Portuguese team however is once again being overshadowed by one man.

As the anthems were being sung, the world’s photography media had their backs to the starting 11 and focused solely on the man left out allegedly for sulking with the coach.

Portugal continue to be a storyline centred around Ronaldo and the narrative has to change.

No sooner had the final whistle gone and Portugal were assured of a quarter-final berth, Ronaldo had walked off the pitch, seemingly unwilling to celebrate with his teammates.

“When he was benched at Man United, he’s gone on, done an interview and left. Slammed the door,” Craig Foster said after the match.

Cristiano Ronaldo walks off while his team celebrate the win over Switzerland.

“He did leave the field there, he had issues with Santos after the last game.

“The coach has come out, for the first time they’re coming out and challenging him saying that’s wrong. That never used to happen with Cristiano Ronaldo. That shows his power is diminishing.

“I think it was reasonably obvious to everyone, including most of Portugal that he just wasn’t contributing as much and that what Ronaldo has to give now at club and national level is off the bench.”

SBS pundit Sarah Walsh echoed Foster’s sentiments: “Look, it’s hard to watch to be honest,” she said of Ronaldo’s demise.

“He’s been such a great for so long. You can just tell he doesn’t want to come off the bench.

“For me, there’s fascinating things that played out in the final ten minutes, where he was pressing, isolated press, turning around basically angry at his teammates for not pressing behind him and wanting to speed up the play when his team is winding down the match was hard to watch. He can finish like no other striker in the world.”

With 20 minutes to play, Ronaldo was called off the bench much to the delight of the crowd, but debate of his impact will no doubt continue for weeks and months to come.

There is a significant amount of truth to the statement that Portugal play better without Ronaldo.

Portugal look so much better without Ronaldo in starting eleven. Genuine challengers to win tournament.

— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) December 6, 2022

It's almost like when you drop Ronaldo it makes you a better team.

— Mike Keegan (@MikeKeegan_DM) December 6, 2022

Ronaldo can protest all he wants but the reality is that managers for club and country now reckon their teams are better off without him. He reckons he can still play elite CL football but the only club keen on him at the moment is Al Nassr

— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) December 6, 2022

Portugal look much better without Ronaldo… shocker 🤷🏼