Were Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal comments sincere? (2:04)Steve Nicol and Stewart Robson are dubious that Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments about Portugal winning the World Cup are truly genuine. (2:04)
Cristiano Ronaldo — winner of five Champions Leagues, five Ballon d’Ors and scorer of a staggering 800+ career goals — now finds himself in uncharted territory.
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A free agent since leaving Manchester United last month when his contract was terminated by mutual agreement, he was dropped by Portugal for Tuesday’s World Cup round-of-16 tie against Switzerland, only for replacement Goncalo Ramos to score a hat trick in a 6-1 win.
Coach Fernando Santos claimed the selection was based on “strategy,” rather than Ronaldo’s angry reaction to being substituted in Portugal’s final group game against South Korea, although Santos had previously said of his captain’s outburst: “I didn’t like it. Didn’t like it at all.”
Cristiano Ronaldo reacted badly to being substituted in Portugal’s final World Cup group game. Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
The Portuguese football federation was even moved to deny reports that things had escalated in the camp ahead of Saturday’s quarterfinal against Morocco. “News released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, national coach,” it said in a statement. “The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team during the time in Qatar.”
But it wouldn’t be the first time that the forward has fallen out with a manager, club or teammate during his record-breaking, but often contentious, 20-year career. Here are some of the high-profile rows Ronaldo has been embroiled in over the course of his two decades at the top.
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