While the remainder of the Portugal workforce celebrated their 6-1 victory over Switzerland, Cristiano Ronaldo headed straight for the tunnel after the ultimate whistle.
He got here off the bench in Tuesday’s 6-1 win over Switzerland that noticed Portugal attain the quarter-finals. Ronaldo’s 21-year-old substitute scored a hat-trick within the win – a efficiency that’s positive to lift questions over Ronaldo’s future along with his nationwide workforce.
Ronaldo congratulated Gonzalo Ramos in midfield on the finish of the sport, then walked in direction of the Portugal part of followers and briefly clapped in his course.
Cristiano Ronaldo (left of image) walks straight whereas his teammates rejoice with the followers. #FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/W7jB6iGQOO
– Adriano Del Monte (@adriandelmonte) December 6, 2022
But as the remainder of the squad took a second of fan appreciation, Ronaldo left his teammates behind and walked by way of the tunnel alone.
Ronaldo emerged within the post-match interview space with an enormous grin on his face, answering just one query: was he glad?
“Of course, absolutely,” smiled the famous person. “Portugal has won.”
A day earlier than Ronaldo was disregarded of the beginning lineup, Fernando Santos expressed his disappointment with the 37-year-old star.
Santos mentioned the choice was tactical and never disciplinary, however admitted on Monday that he was troubled by Ronaldo’s poor perspective following a 2-1 loss to South Korea within the last recreation of group play.
“I think those issues have been resolved. I said it in my last press conference and I repeat myself: this is something that is finished, resolved,” Santos mentioned. “I’ve a really shut relationship with (Ronaldo). I’ve recognized him since he was 19 at Sporting.
“I think Ronaldo and I never misinterpreted the human and personal aspect of manager and player and what we should do during the match,” the coach mentioned. “That is what we will do. I will always consider that he is a very important player in the team.”
Although Ronaldo has scored in 5 tournaments, he has solely eight targets in 20 World Cup appearances. His 118 targets in worldwide play is a world report for males, however Ronaldo has by no means scored within the knockout stage of a World Cup.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
