Former Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo should not keep his place in the Portugal squad ahead of his country’s round of 16 match against Switzerland at the World Cup in Qatar.
That’s according to a recent A Bola poll, in which a whopping 70% of readers asked Fernando Santos to rule him out for the match.
The Athletic had previously reported that Ronaldo held “god” status in his home country, but now, it seems, the tides are turning.
His performances in the World Cup have been, frankly, dismal. Surprisingly to many observers of Portugal during the tournament.
But the reality is that Ronaldo is playing in exactly the same way that he played for Manchester United in the run-up to Qatar.
Unnecessary offsides, an inability to get away from defenders, and terrifying misses on the rare occasions when he creates a chance for himself, have all been hallmarks of Ronaldo 2022.
He still takes a good penalty, mind you, and that skill represents his only goal of the tournament so far.
His ability to influence games has diminished to the point where a player by any other name would have taunted the team for expecting his teammates to take on the defensive responsibilities he chooses to avoid.
And with the Portugal captain landing another in a long line of strikes after his substitution against South Korea, a match in which he performed terribly, there can’t be many who seriously believe Ronaldo is worth the trouble he brings.
In fact, with the wealth of talent in the Portuguese national team, there is a feeling that they have reached the last 16 despite Ronaldo.
Rafael Leao, Joao Félix, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva could form an excitingly dynamic attacking quartet, capable of pressing high and baffling defenders all the way to the final.
But with Fernando Santos seemingly willing to stick with Ronaldo even if the sky falls, it’s unlikely anyone will be able to see him in action for an entire match, certainly not without the weight of his albatross.
