Portugal manager Fernando Santos decided not to include Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting XI of the FIFA World Cup knockout match for the second game in a row. But this time, his decision backfired as Portugal suffered a shocking 0-1 defeat against Morocco in the third quarterfinal match of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar and got knocked out of the tournament.
Ronaldo, who started on the bench in the quarterfinal, came on as a substitute in the 51st minute of the game but failed to find the back of the net despite creating a noticeable impact on the field. The Moroccan team, which had broken the deadlock in the 42nd minute of the game with Youssef En-Nesyri’s strike, went on to protect their lead and secure a place in the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
‘Today we don’t lose, we learn’- Georgina Rodriguez
Following Portugal’s elimination from the World Cup, Ronaldo’s girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez took to Instagram to hit out at Portugal’s manager Santos for not including Ronaldo in the starting XI.
Sharing a story on the social media platform with a picture of Ronaldo, she wrote, “Today, your friend and coach made the wrong decision. That friend for whom you have so many words of admiration and respect. The same one who, when putting you on the field, saw how everything changed, but it was too late. You can’t underestimate the best player of the world, its most powerful weapon. Much less should one stand up for those who don’t deserve it. Life gives us lessons. Today we don’t lose, we learn. We admire you.”
Ronaldo’s sister, Katia Aveiro, also posted the image with the caption: “This is what breaks my heart. In the end it’s about ours… About mine… And about the pride I have in him and the story he wrote. With glory, much glory, we’re together my brother, until death.”
