Portugal Beats Norway as Ronaldo Watches Entire Match From the Bench
Portugal defeated Norway 2:1 in the Nations League, but Cristiano Ronaldo spent the entire match on the bench for the first time in 18 years, heading straight down the tunnel at full-time.
Cristiano Ronaldo has experienced almost everything in his long international career, but even for one of the most decorated players in football history, the evening in Oslo was unusual. Portugal defeated Norway 2:1 in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday, maintaining its perfect campaign record, but the biggest talking point did not even step onto the pitch.
Ronaldo on the Bench and Tunnel Departure
Ronaldo, the captain and biggest star of the national team, watched all 90 minutes from the bench. However, the story did not end with the final whistle. While Portugal's players made their way to the stands to thank the traveling fans at Ullevaal Stadion, Ronaldo chose to walk in a different direction. According to a report by the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the striker headed straight down the tunnel instead of joining his teammates for the traditional acknowledgement of the supporters.
Leaving Ronaldo on the bench was a rare occurrence in itself. At 41 years old, CR7 no longer plays every minute of every match, but his status in the Portuguese squad remains central. In the previous match against Wales, he started and played 70 minutes, but coach Jorge Jesus decided to manage the veteran star's load this time and opt for a different attacking option.
A Rare Milestone and Manager's Explanation
This was a particularly rare event in Ronaldo's international career. In fact, it was the first time in 18 years that he was included in Portugal's squad for an official match but watched the entire game from start to finish without receiving a single minute. The last time this happened was at Euro 2008, when he remained on the bench for the entire 2:0 defeat against Switzerland in the group stage.
Gonçalo Ramos took his place up front, and ultimately the decision paid off. The Portuguese striker was involved in the decisive moment of the game, capitalizing on a mistake by Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland to score the winning goal. Jesus himself revealed after the match that he considered bringing Ronaldo on at one point. The coach thought about using the captain during the final 30 minutes, but ultimately decided against the substitution.
"I told him I would bring him on, but I didn't think it justified making a change for a striker with Cristiano's characteristics," the coach explained.
When asked about Ronaldo's decision not to join his teammates at the end, Jesus replied: "Only he can answer that."
