Ronaldo benched against Morocco in World Cup quarterfinals

By Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press on December 10, 2022.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) – Cristiano Ronaldo is starting on the bench for Portugal for the second straight game at the World Cup.

The 37-year-old Ronaldo remained out of the starting lineup against Morocco for the quarterfinals match on Saturday after being dropped for the round-of-16 match against Switzerland.

Gonçalo Ramos, who scored a hat trick against Switzerland on his first start for Portugal, was again selected ahead of Ronaldo.

Ronaldo is playing in his fifth and likely final World Cup.

He was left out of the lineup against the Swiss after coach Fernando Santos expressed frustration about his team captain’s attitude in the previous game.

Santos later said Ronaldo was “not happy” to be told he was being benched, but never threatened to leave the World Cup because of his decision.

Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men’s national team soccer with 118 goals, eventually came in as a replacement in the 74th minute.

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