With Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, the superstar striker’s replacement scored a hat-trick to propel Portugal to a 6-1 win over Switzerland and a World Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.
21-year-old forward Goncalo Ramos, who made his Portugal debut just last month, made his first start for his country and displayed the kind of clinical finishing Ronaldo was known for.
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Ramos scored the first goal in the 17th minute and added others in the 51st and 67th minutes – until “Ronaldo!” Ronaldo!” going around the 89,000-seat Lusail Stadium.
Ronaldo, 37, entered as a substitute in the 72nd minute to loud cheers, although by then Portugal had finished the game with defenders Pepe and Rafael Guerreiro. Rafael Leao scored another goal in stoppage time.
Manuel Akanji scored for Switzerland.
Portugal reached the quarter-finals for the third time after 1966 and 2006 and will play Morocco on Saturday.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos now has to decide whether to stick with Ramos or reinstate Ronaldo, the top scorer in men’s international football and one of the sport’s greatest ever players.
Ronaldo had few chances after coming on and even thought he had scored when he fired a low shot past Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The goal was disallowed for offside, much to the chagrin of the fans – Portuguese or from other countries – who had come to watch.
After the final whistle, as Portugal’s players stayed on the field to applaud the team’s fans at one end of the stadium, Ronaldo walked off on his own – perhaps wondering where his career would go from here. He is currently without a club since leaving Manchester United midway World cup.
Ronaldo was dropped a day after Santos expressed displeasure at the striker’s attitude after being substituted in the team’s final group game against South Korea.
Ramos was a surprise replacement, having previously made only three substitute appearances for Portugal, and took his chance.
Ramos, who was only 2 when Ronaldo made his Portugal debut in 2003, scored his first hat-trick in this year’s World Cup. He also did something Ronaldo has never achieved – scored the knockout goal in soccer’s biggest tournament.
Ramos fired a soaring shot with his left foot just inside Sommer’s near post for the first goal, flicked it cleverly through Sommer’s legs from close range for the second, and then beat the goalkeeper for his third. Ran for
Ronaldo was seen smiling as he warmed up on the sidelines after Ramos’ second goal.
Ramos also had an assist, playing the ball in for Guerrero to score the fourth goal.
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