Cristiano Ronaldo does not want to be one more. Although he has lost his untouchable status - first with Manchester United, and with his former team, and now with Portugal - the Portuguese attacker refuses to receive any treatment that is not differential. As shown by a button. This Wednesday he stayed doing specific work in the gym together with the starting team that thrashed Switzerland and qualified Fernando Santos' team to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar.
The substitutes who saw their teammates thrash at the Lusail Stadium, some regular starters such as Cancelo or Vitinha, did train at Portugal's base camp. Although it was a less intense session, those who came out in the second half like Leao, Ricardo Horta or the aforementioned Vitinha were under the orders of the Portuguese coach.
Annoyed by his star's disapproving gestures when he substituted for him against South Korea, Santos had the courage to seat Cristiano, a substitute for the first time in a major tournament since Euro 2008, precisely against Switzerland. Instead of the Portuguese star, the coach opted for Gonçalo Ramos, the 21-year-old striker from Benfica, who formed an attacking duo with João Félix. He scored nothing less than a hat-trick. The play could not have turned out more well.
Cristiano came on for the Atlético footballer in the 74th minute. With the game broken and the score at 5-1, he didn't look sad. He rubbed his hands imagining expanding his scoring tally that would allow him to equal Eusébio as the Portuguese with the most goals in World Cup history (9). They disallowed a goal for offside, and little else. He congratulated his teammates after the match, but he did not stay to celebrate the pass to the quarterfinals with them on the pitch. Quickly, and alone, he made his way to the locker room.
"There is no problem, we have been friends for many years. Everything is completely arranged and he set the example of a true captain," Santos said at a press conference, without wanting to fuel the debate about his substitution. It was the way to appease the controversy.
"He knows very well that what is important is us, the team. What happened (his substitution) was the coach's choice and we must respect it," said Pepe, his former teammate at Madrid and two years older than him. In fact, at 39, against the Swiss team, he became the second oldest footballer to score in a World Cup (he is only surpassed by Cameroonian Roger Milla, at 42).
The one who also spoke was Cristiano's partner. Georgina regretted the absence of her in the eleven watering her ego. "While the 11 players sang the hymn, all the goals were set on you. What a shame not to have been able to enjoy the best player in the world for 90 minutes. The fans have not stopped claiming you and shouting your name. I hope that God and your dear friend Fernando, continue hand in hand and make us vibrate one more night," he wrote on Instagram.
Cristiano is going through the most difficult moment of his career. While he sees how his arch-rival Leo Messi continues to be decisive with Argentina in a fabulous state of form, he contests the World Cup without a team and without a leading role. His decline, the one that seemed impossible to come to, is already a fact.
Rumors distance him from the elite. Tempted by the petrodollars from Saudi Arabia, he for the moment denies having any agreement with Al Nassr. "No, it's not true," he said after the round of 16 tie.
