The 37-year-old was on the bench as the Selecao hammered the Red Crosses to reach the last eight at Lusail Stadium
Cristiano Ronaldo is fading after starting from the bench for Portugal in the 6-1 World Cup victory against Switzerland on Tuesday, according to African fans.
In the Round of 16 fixture at Lusail Stadium, the Selecao coach Fernando Santos stunned many after he decided to bench the 37-year-old Ronaldo for the 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos, who went ahead to grab the headlines with a hat-trick.
Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro and substitute Rafael Leao scored the other goals for Portugal, who will now face Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Though the former Manchester United forward was finally introduced in the 74th for Joao Felix, the decision to keep him on the bench has drawn mixed reactions among African fans on social media.
A huge section have supported coach Santos for taking the brave move, while some insist Ronaldo is past his best and it is not possible for Argentina's Lionel Messi to start from the bench.
Ronaldo is finished
Ronaldo is finished and should give way to young players. - Emmanuel Bassey
I used to think Ronaldo is finished but after seeing him on the bench, I realised he is completely finished... - Beborn Stephen
Ronaldo is not finished 😂😂 but he's completely finished 😂 - Evans Adams
Getty ImagesRonaldo fading away
He is on the bench for a very important match for Portugal... and no one is shouting disrespect... The coach wants to win well and good and he knows Ronaldo wouldn't suit the style he wants... that's the same thing Ten Hag did and people were shouting disrespect
Know this and know peace... Ronaldo is fading away as a player... - Temiloluwa David
Ronaldo should have retire
Ronaldo should just accept he's washed up and retire from international football and give space to young guys like Ramos. - James Momanyi.
Ronaldo should have retired when he was at the top, but now he will be remembered for being a miserable flop, he is not bigger than a manager or a team. Good riddance Coach Fernando Santos and good game to Goncalo Ramos. sorry we didn't see that coming 😔. - Stainless
GOALNo player can bench Messi
Which player in the world can bench Lionel Messi? Absolutely no one but see Ronaldo life today, even in his face he wasn’t happy at all. - Zechariah Bala
On the bench, this is where everyone will understand Messi is better than Ronaldo. - Yusuf Umaru
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