In a move that left many fans scratching their heads, Cristiano Ronaldo was surprisingly benched during Portugal’s UEFA Nations League match against Scotland.
The legendary forward, fresh off his 900th career goal, was expected to start after his heroic performance in a 2-1 win over Croatia. However, coach Roberto Martinez had other plans.
Despite Ronaldo’s consistent form, Martinez decided to rest the 39-year-old for the first half of the game, with Portugal trailing 1-0 by halftime.
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Martinez explains his decision to bench Ronaldo
Many fans were wondering why Ronaldo, who is still a crucial figure on the field, was kept on the bench. Martinez later explained, “Cristiano is in a good moment. It’s September, he’s played three games, he’s scored for his club. We need to protect all the players.”
Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, did not disappoint when called upon. Coming off the bench at halftime, he made his mark once again by scoring the winning goal in the 88th minute, proving that age is just a number for the Portuguese superstar.
Martinez further clarified his decision, stating, “Cristiano can’t play two 90-minute games in 72 hours. Today, the important thing was that if he needed to be on the pitch, it was to finish the game and not to start. I really liked his commitment.”
While Martinez dismissed claims that Portugal is overly dependent on Ronaldo, it’s clear that the forward still holds a vital role for the national team.
With his eyes on reaching 1,000 career goals, Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down, and fans can expect him to continue leading Portugal through upcoming tournaments, possibly all the way to the 2026 World Cup.
Once again, the king of late drama proves why you should never count him out.
