Portugal head coach Fernando Santos addressed the decision to leave captain Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench during the World Cup quarterfinal against Morocco in Qatar. He said he does not regret the move, noting that the team delivered strong performances in the previous tie against Switzerland. When a moment seemed necessary for the squad, Ronaldo was brought onto the pitch, and Santos emphasized that there was no lingering doubt about the choice.
Portugal fell to Morocco with a 0-1 scoreline, and Ronaldo appearance came only in the 51st minute. The 37-year-old veteran, embarking on his fifth World Cup, appeared emotional after the final whistle, shown crying in a room beneath the stands during the broadcast footage.
The World Cup, which began on November 20, ran through December 18 of 2022, with matches hosted across eight stadiums in five cities. The tournament culminated at the National Stadium, where the final was staged.
Meanwhile, Yassine Bono of Morocco earned distinction as the first African goalkeeper to claim a clean sheet on three separate World Cup appearances, underscoring the impressive defensive effort that characterized the Moroccans’ campaign.