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DOHA, Qatar – Cristiano Ronaldo's teammate Georgina Rodríguez criticized Portugal coach Fernando Santos on Instagram for not starting the 37-year-old movie star more in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Morocco , on Saturday.
Morocco stunned Portugal 1-0, potentially ending Ronaldo's options in an always lucrative international Cup. He will be 41 when the United States, Mexico and Canada host the 2026 match.
“Today your friend and your friend made an unpleasant decision,” Rodriguez wrote on his Instagram Story, which has been translated into English, alongside a photo of Ronaldo. She appeared on the stadium's video cameras several times along with her family during the match.
“That fellow for whom you have so many words of admiration and admiration. Just like for those who bought the game online, he saw how everything changed, but it was too late. You cannot underestimate the best player in the world, its most powerful weapon. That you couldn't defend a person who didn't deserve both.
“existence gives us lessons. We didn’t lose today, we realized.”
Excited, Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the pitch after Morocco eliminates Portugal
Ronaldo's sister, Elma Aveiro, also chimed in on Instagram, writing, “waiting for the record of those responsible for this defeat. … “unhappy for the group, now raise your head and move on. God is aware of all problems.”
Santos opted not to start Ronaldo in Portugal's round of sixteen match against Switzerland last week, and made the same name again on Saturday against Morocco. When Ronaldo was substituted in the 51st minute, the stadium went wild. Portugal were already 1-0 down and fanatics expected their captain to produce his heroic second World Cup and lead them to victory. This did not happened.
Cristiano Ronaldo came close to tying the video game for Portugal
The Portuguese coach was asked after the video game if he regretted not starting Ronaldo.
“No,” Santos observed. "I don't think so. No regrets. No regrets. I think that turned into a team that played really well against Switzerland. Cristiano is a very good player. He joined when we realized that this became fundamental. So no, I don’t regret it.”
Ronaldo was unable to hide his feelings later and wiped away tears in the tunnel as he walked to the dressing room. This turned into his fifth World Cup, and he hoped to make his viable final his most memorable.
perhaps it became due to different factors. Ronaldo was the center of attention from the moment he landed in Qatar. From the drama of leaving Manchester United and supposedly going on to play for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, to rumors that he threatened to leave the national team after losing his starting spot – every day, seemingly, this became something new .
