CNN –
Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself in uncharted territory this season, but wherever he is in the stadium, the cameras follow him.
After it was announced that Portugal’s World Cup round of 16 match against Switzerland would start from the bench, large groups of photographers gathered around the team’s substitutes before kick-off.
Such was the almost comical number of cameras with his goals trained on Ronaldo that it drew laughter from most of his fellow Portuguese reserves.
The substitute’s bench is not a place the Portuguese superstar has spent much time since making his career debut in 2002, with his goal-scoring abilities too crucial for teams to take him off the pitch or leave him out of the starting lineup.
However, this season has been different.
Now 37, Ronaldo’s legs don’t seem to have the zip they used to and while he remains one of football’s greatest goalscoring threats, his growing lack of mobility means he no longer suits the ‘high-octane pressing style of many footballers. teams like to play the modern game.
This led to him being quickly dropped to the bench by new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who prefers a high-pressing and energetic style, something Ronaldo made it known he was not happy about.
When Ten Hag asked Ronaldo to come off the bench earlier this season against Tottenham, the former Real Madrid man threw a punch and walked back down the tunnel, refusing to enter the game.
This led to Ronaldo being dropped from the matchday squad for United’s next game. The Portuguese star later addressed his behavior in an Instagram post, although he did not apologise.
“As I have always done throughout my career, I try to live and play with respect for my teammates, my opponents and my coaches,” he wrote.
Then came the interview with Piers Morgan, in which Ronaldo called out almost everyone at Manchester United, including the cooks, which ultimately brought the end of his second spell at the club as both sides decided to part ways.
Since his departure from Manchester United, there have been rumors that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is close to signing with a club in Saudi Arabia, which he has denied.
Then on Tuesday, Ronaldo was left out of Portugal’s starting line-up at a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2008.
It is still unclear why Ronaldo was relegated to the bench, but his performances of late have fallen well short of the high standards he has set throughout his career.
Portugal head coach Fernando Santos said in his pre-match press conference that he was not happy with his captain’s reaction to being substituted in the previous game against South Korea.
Given Ronaldo’s reaction to being on the bench for United and then being withdrawn against Korea, it’s fair to assume that people might have expected a similar reaction on Tuesday.
In Ronaldo’s defense, however, it was not.
He was seen cheering on his teammates for much of the game and joined in the celebrations when they scored, including those of Gonçalo Ramos, who replaced Ronaldo in the starting line-up and scored the first hat-trick trick of this World Cup.
But in Ronaldo’s roughly 20-minute cameo during Portugal’s 6-1 demolition of Switzerland, he still showed what he can do in front of goal.
With his only real chance of the game, Ronaldo buried his shot past Yann Sommer, but the referee’s offside flag denied him a goal.
His star quality also remains with the Lusail Stadium filled with chants of “Ronaldo, Ronaldo” as he entered the pitch to claim the biggest roar of the night, including the game’s seven goals .
In his absence, Portugal produced by far their best performance to date in Qatar and hammering a good Switzerland side has helped lift Santos’ side into serious World Cup contenders.
It is unclear whether Ronaldo will regain his place in the starting line-up for Portugal’s quarter-final against Morocco, but even if he doesn’t, being able to call up one of the greatest goalscorers in the sport’s history will not it’s a bad choice.