Cristiano Ronaldo is fading after starting from the bench for Portugal in the 6-1 World Cup victory against Switzerland on Tuesday, according to African fans.
In the Round of 16 fixture at Lusail Stadium, the Selecao coach Fernando Santos stunned many after he decided to bench the 37-year-old Ronaldo for the 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos, who went ahead to grab the headlines with a hat-trick.
Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro and substitute Rafael Leao scored the other goals for Portugal, who will now face Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Though the former Manchester United forward was finally introduced in the 74th for Joao Felix, the decision to keep him on the bench has drawn mixed reactions among African fans on social media.
A huge section have supported coach Santos for taking the brave move, while some insist Ronaldo is past his best and it is not possible for Argentina's Lionel Messi to start from the bench.
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