Following Portugal’s game against Switzerland, Cristiano Ronaldo‘s girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez took to Instagram to criticise manager Fernando Santos for sitting the striker during the stunning 6-1 victory in Qatar.
Ronaldo was benched for the round of 16 match because Santos voiced displeasure with Ronaldo’s behaviour after being ejected in Portugal’s last group match against South Korea.
Goncalo Ramos, 21, became the first player to score a hat-trick in this World Cup’s knockout stage and the youngest player to do it since Pele in a 1958 Brazil versus France semifinal. The 37-year-old was forced to watch from the bench against the Swiss.
With about 20 minutes remaining, Ronaldo finally joined the game as the Lusail Stadium crowd roared his name.
READ ALSO: Qatar 2022: Portugal Reacts To News Of Ronaldo’s Possible Walkout
Rodriguez took to Instagram to both congratulate Portugal on their victory after the final whistle and to express her disappointment in the team. Portugal would face Morocco in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
“Congratulations Portugal. While the 11 players sang the anthem, all eyes were on you. What a shame not to have been able to enjoy the best player in the world for 90 minutes,” the Argentine wrote.
“The fans did not stop asking for you and shouting your name. May God and your dear friend Fernando continue hand in hand and make us vibrate one more night.”
In his post-game press conference, Santos was inevitably questioned about Ronaldo’s omission and whether the player would have to accept a diminished position in his team’s future ambitions.
“That is still something that has to be defined,” Santos said. “I have a very close relationship with him, I’ve known him since he was 19 at Sporting. Ronaldo and I never misinterpret the human and personal aspect with that of manager and player. I will always consider that he is a very important player to have in the team.
“[The matter] is something that is finished and solved. It is also important to look at this player’s history, he is one of the best players in the world and therefore all we have to do is come in collectively,” Santos added.
Santos explained why he benched Ronaldo by noting that “we wanted a team that played with a lot of fluidity.”
“Cristiano is more fixed, he stays in a more determined role towards the box. Goncalo has different characteristics: he is very dynamic and that’s what he ended up showing us.”
