Cristiano Ronaldo reaction to Portugal substitution says it all | Football | Sport

Cristiano Ronaldo made little effort to conceal his frustration after being hauled off during Portugal’s World Cup victory over Croatia. His side emerged 2-1 winners after their opponents were controversially denied a late equaliser in stoppage time, with the Al Nassr forward watching events unfold from the dugout.

The 41-year-old had featured in every minute of the World Cup campaign until Roberto Martinez opted to withdraw him in the 81st minute. The veteran grimaced and hesitated before complying with the substitution, clearly unhappy with his manager’s call.

Ronaldo had already found the net with his maiden goal in the knockout phase of the World Cup, cancelling out Ivan Perisic’s opener to draw Portugal level. The former Real Madrid icon had previously seen an effort chalked off for offside before holding his nerve to convert from the spot.

Yet with fewer than 10 minutes of regulation time left, Martinez judged that a decisive goal would come from elsewhere and brought on Ruben Neves in Ronaldo’s place.

“Look at his face,” observed Matt Upson on BBC Radio 5 Live. “Straight away, the shake of the head and the disappointment. He couldn’t hide it.

“I think Martinez has made a sensible call to keep Portugal fresh and in the game.”

Fellow commentator Stephen Warnock echoed that view. “Cristiano Ronaldo is not happy. He is not happy at all,” he remarked.

“Take the name out of it, it is the right decision. Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t affected the game enough. Yes, he scored the penalty. The link-up play, the pressing, it is not there from him.

“For the good of the team, that is what Roberto Martinez has to think about. You have got to put your ego aside and think of the bigger picture.”

Ronaldo’s face lit up with delight as Portugal ultimately secured their place in the last 16, where they are set to face Spain after Croatia’s last-gasp equaliser was dramatically ruled out by VAR. The Portugal skipper also paid his respects to the late Diogo Jota, wearing a shirt bearing his number during the full-time celebrations.

Speaking after the final whistle, Theo Walcott backed the decision to substitute Ronaldo, though he confessed to having had his doubts at the time.

“Cristiano Ronaldo had his moment and we had this debate, thinking about taking him off just before he had the goal offside and I was like ‘you can’t take him off’,” he said.

“I think it was the right decision in the end, it really was, even his response and these are beautiful scenes.