Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal replacement nets World Cup hat trick
Cristiano Ronaldo at least had a great view.
As Portugal emphatically punched its ticket to the World Cup quarterfinals with a 6-1 rout of Switzerland on Tuesday at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Cristiano Ronaldo found himself where he most despised.
The bench.
The 37-year-old megastar was not named in the starting lineup, the first game of the tournament he was used as a reserve. In his place, Pepe served as the captain.
Ronaldo was replaced at striker by 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos, who immediately made manager Fernando Santos’ decision look spot on.
Just 17 minutes into the game, Ramos, who plays for Portuguese club side Benfica, received a pass from Joao Felix a few feet inside the left side of the box. Although he seemingly lacked an angle to shoot, Ramos uncorked a rocket with his weak left foot that beat Switzerland goalie Yann Sommer at his near post. It was only Ramos’ second-career goal for Portugal, and first in this World Cup. He made his Portuguese debut just last month, and it was his first-ever international start.
“Not even in my wildest dreams did I think about being part of the starting team for the knockout stage,” Ramos said after the game.
Ronaldo took in the stunning goal from his new spot on the bench before briefly celebrating with his teammates.
Then, Ramos proceeded to steal the show.
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He scored twice in the second half to secure a hat trick, beating Sommer in the 51st and 67th minutes to help Portugal cruise, earning Man of the Match honors.
Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro and Rafael Leao also scored for Portugal, who now face Morocco in the quarterfinals. Ronaldo entered as a substitute to loud cheers in the 73rd minute with Portugal leading 5-1.
In the lead-up to the match, Santos told reporters he “didn’t like” Ronaldo’s attitude and demeanor after he was substituted off during Portugal’s 2-1 loss to South Korea in the final group-stage game. Ronaldo appeared to be upset about being taken out, although he claimed his anger was directed at a South Korean player, not Santos.
After the game, Santos insisted there was no rift between him and the player.
“We have to think about this team collectively now,” Santos said. “I still consider him to have a very important role in the team.”
Just days before the World Cup, Ronaldo infamously spoke out against his ex-club team Manchester United in a sit-down interview with Piers Morgan. He notably said he felt “betrayed” by the club, and railed against the team’s decision to repeatedly select other forwards in the starting lineup over him. He then agreed to a mutual split with the club, and has been recently linked with Saudi club Al-Nassr.
Now, Santos will have to once-again decide what to do with his nation’s icon, and a team that looked dominant without him.
“Cristiano Ronaldo talks to me and everyone in the team. He’s our leader and always tries to help,” Ramos said. “I don’t know if I will start the next game, that’s up to the coach. I have to work as hard as I can and then we’ll see.”
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