For the first time in 31 matches, Cristiano Ronaldo did not start the game as a starter in a major match for the Portuguese national team.
The coach Fernando Santos chose to leave the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus forward, with 118 goals for the national team and 32 trophies in his career, on the bench during the round of 16 of the World Cup, played against Switzerland on Tuesday, December 6.
Without him, Portugal still thrived.
The player who replaced Ronaldo – 21-year-old Gonçalo Ramos – scored his first goals in the World Cup and contributed to Portugal’s impressive 6-1 victory over Switzerland.
This was a decisive match in the careers of both players: the discovery of a potential star, while the man who has won everything saw he could lose space to new talents.
But why was Ronaldo on the bench?
Coach Santos made it perfectly clear that he “really didn’t like” the star’s reaction to being substituted against South Korea, and did not guarantee that the 37-year-old player would start against Switzerland when questioned about it the day before the match.
“I only give the lineup at the stadium, in the locker room,” Santos said. “It has always been this way. Otherwise, the matter is closed and everyone is available.”
Even so, there was surprise when Cristiano Ronaldo did not step onto the field but headed to the bench before the start of the match. The dozens of photographers forgot they were there to photograph the Portuguese national team and turned their cameras to Cristiano occupying a place where he is not used to being.
So who is Ramos?
Ramos is a rookie, only 21 years old. But what about the talent? Top scorer of the U-19 European Championship in 2019. A year later, he debuted at Benfica and had an immediate impact. He scored goals in four Benfica teams: Youth, U-23, Team B, and the first team, showcasing his rapid rise.
Ramos’ good start to the 2022 season earned him his first call-up for Portugal’s Nations League matches in September.
Nicknamed “The Wizard,” Ramos showed all his magic on his first play in the World Cup. Compared to Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller for his positional intelligence, Ramos came alive when he received the ball in the box. His smart movement allowed him to create something out of nothing and strike into the left corner of the goal. He didn’t stop there; he scored two more in the match.
His performance did not surprise teammate Fernandes: “People have no idea of the quality of the Portuguese league. Benfica has been doing very well in the Champions League, so people should pay attention to Gonçalo, to his qualities,” said teammate Fernandes.
“He is a great talent and not just that,” added Bernardo Silva. “He has that striker’s instinct, knowing where the ball will end up to finish the action, but he is also a worker, always trying to do what is best for the team and not what is best for him.”
After the match, when asked if Ronaldo would start in the quarter-finals, which will be played on Saturday against Morocco, Santos left it open:
“All the players on the bench can be used,” he said. “All 24 players can play, and if they are not among the starting eleven, they can play later.”