Why Portugal benched Cristiano Ronaldo in a crucial World Cup knockout match

Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo made his World Cup debut in 2006 as a 21-year-old star from Manchester United, he had been the undisputed face of the Portugal national team. They’d go as far as Ronaldo could take them.

Well, fast forward to 2022, and that’s not necessarily the case for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

With Portugal seeking a trip to the quarterfinal, head coach Fernando Santos made the hugely consequential decision to name a Starting XI for the Round of 16 match against Switzerland without Ronaldo a part of it.

While Santos’ call to move Ronaldo to the bench will be surprising to plenty of fans, it was a justifiable decision.

????ℝ????????????????ℕ???? ℕ????????????: Este é o nosso 11 Inicial para hoje! #VesteABandeira

This is our Starting 11 for today! #WearTheFlag pic.twitter.com/OiKlJU44O1

— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) December 6, 2022

Let’s break down why.