Fernando Santos’ huge call to drop Cristiano Ronaldo might have been the last of his career, but thanks to Goncalo Ramos it was a masterstroke.
The first 2022 World Cup hat-trick was buried by youngster Benfica in arguably the best individual performance yet, leaving Ronaldo probably in shock in the 5-1 win over Switzerland.
A dressing room that has been under his and Santos’ control since 2014 was best exemplified by the image of the two standing together on the touchline at Euro 2016 as they led the nation to a first major trophy.
However, as Portugal crumbled in the previous two tournaments in the Round of 16, the inseparable duo faced criticism from the media at home, with fans ending their careers.
Even with Ronaldo’s shocking pre-tournament interview and lack of form heading to Qatar, that bond seemed unbreakable, until an explosive press conference on Monday afternoon.
When Santos was asked about Ronaldo’s perceived sulking and complaints against the manager following a 65th-minute substitution against South Korea, the media expected a standard defense from his star man, but for once it does not occur.
“Did I see the footage when Ronaldo was substituted? Yes. Didn’t I like what I saw? No, I didn’t like it at all,” Santos said.
Wait, did Santos just criticize Ronaldo? Did the one man Ronaldo couldn’t upset in football finally turn on him too?
Well, those questions were answered an hour before kick-off at the Lusail Stadium when Santos released a Portugal squad sheet without Ronaldo for the first time at a major tournament since 2008.
Any shockwaves through the world of football were probably incomparable to a dressing room that constantly had to defend its hero after his interview, with the start of the tournament plagued by repeated questioning distractions and then a cancellation of the Manchester United contract.
All of a sudden, all that tension came to a head, but luckily for Santos there was one carefree 21-year-old star in the world lacing his boots up.
And after just 17 minutes against a dangerous Swiss side, he fired a shot into the net, before adding two more of the highest quality.
“Cristiano Ronaldo omitted, a monumental call, it couldn’t have gone better for Fernando Santos,” said talkSPORT’s Jim Proudfoot.
“Ramos wrote his name in Portuguese folklore, he propelled them to the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in 16 years, who needs Ronaldo? Not Portugal tonight.
“If Portugal have ever wondered who will take the reins of their mystical No7, they may well have the answer.”
“It’s a masterstroke from Fernando Santos,” added England legend Stuart Pearce.
“Portugal have come across a player who will undoubtedly start in the next game. He has the shirt at the minute.
“There are times when as a manager you make judgments and you hope they’re right, he’ll be sitting there so smug it’s unbelievable.
“This youngster has scored three absolutely outstanding goals, the first showing how much power he can generate, the following his movement through the defender and the third his composure as he goes.
“Portugal might have discovered not just one for the future, but for the immediate future.”
The tournament began with Ronaldo chasing some of the accolades he never achieved during an incredible career as one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.
A World Cup has proven elusive after four previous attempts, and so has a knockout goal.
The all-time top scorer in club and international football was also well aware he needed one more World Cup goal to break Eusebio’s record for Portugal, hence the desperation of a touch on the center of Bruno Fernandes against Uruguay.
His late appearance as a substitute, his first coming off the bench for Portugal at a major tournament since 2004, assured him he is now one cap away from the all-time record, but his knockout goal n didn’t come in the rout.
Now, however, Ramos has three, propelling Portugal into the last eight of a World Cup for the first time in 16 years.
Reports in Spain claim that Ronaldo has struck a blockbuster deal with Saudi side Al Nassr to become the highest-paid football player in the world, scoring a steep descent from the top of the game.
If these reports turn out to be true, Qatar 2022 could be Ronaldo’s last hurray in elite football, and Ramos may have just finished his farewell early.
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