Cristiano Ronaldo did not like it when he was substituted in the match against Uruguay, this Monday (28). When he realized he was going to leave, he looked at the Lusail stadium screen and scowled and walked slowly to the edge of the field.
There were only eight minutes left for the end of regulation time, but the Uruguayan pressure put the Portuguese victory, at that point by the smallest difference, at risk. He didn’t want to feel that agony from the bench—offside he never feels good.
But it was from there that he saw Bruno Fernandes shine again at the World Cup in Qatar. From the penalty spot, the midfielder scored his second goal in the duel and not only defined the score from 2 to 0, but also guaranteed the classification of the Europeans for the round of 16 in advance.
In what should be Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup, the number 8 has been stealing the show for Portugal. There were two assists on his debut, against Ghana, and two more goals against Uruguay, with performances that make him the team’s main reference Until now.
Four years ago, he wasn’t even a starter for the national team. Moved to Russia at the age of 24, he watched from the bench as his national team was eliminated in the round of 16, curiously, also against Uruguay.
Without the status he has today in the team, when he was still wearing the shirt of Sporting, from Portugal, he had only played in his debut, in the tie with Spain (3-3), and was withdrawn in the second round. He didn’t return to the team even for a few minutes.
The current stage is quite different. In addition to being one of the highlights of Manchester United, from England, he is also the one who makes the Lusitanian midfield gear work.
With coach Fernando Santos, he usually plays behind the two men in front, Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix, but with plenty of freedom to appear in the area and take advantage of his eye for goal.
When he was still a Sporting player, he scored 32 goals and recorded 16 assists in 52 games in the 2018-19 season. With the Manchester United shirt, he scored 28 goals and provided 18 assists in 51 matches in 2020-21.
For the national team, he adds 11 in 50 matches. One of them, however, almost left his count. FIFA had to resort to data from a sensor on the ball to confirm that Cristiano Ronaldo had not headed a cross made by him against the Uruguayans. The midfielder himself admits that he tried to make the pass, but the goal was his.
“I celebrated as if it were Cristiano’s, it looked like he had touched the ball there. My goal was the cross for him, but regardless of that we are happy for the team’s victory”, said the player.
The celebration of this goal also has an important aspect for the Portuguese team. He showed that the midfielder and the striker are in tune on the field, despite the controversies that marked Portugal’s preparation for the World Cup.
On the eve of the start of the tournament, the number 7 entered into litigation with Manchester United and ended up having his contract terminated, according to the parties, in common agreement, after the athlete made harsh criticisms of the association and coach Erik ten Hag. He even said that he felt betrayed at the club.
The statements created a heavy atmosphere in the English team’s locker room, according to the country’s press. This would directly affect the future of Bruno Fernandes and winger Diogo Dalot, club athletes and star teammates on the national team.
Before leaving Portugal for Qatar, a video in which the midfielder and Cristiano Ronaldo appear exchanging a supposedly cold greeting was used to indicate that there was a bad feeling between them. They denied it, even on the pitch.
“The figure of Portugal is a whole, it’s our group, it’s our union, it’s that delivery we have on the field. It’s the help we have between all of us and it’s what makes us have strong results”, commented the number 8.
His words may also indicate a person without vanity. At this point, different from Cristiano Ronaldo, who did not hide his desire to have the goal against Uruguay credited to him.
It would be his 118th for Portugal. Even so, he is already the top goalscorer for a national team among all men’s national teams. He also became Qatar’s only player to score in five World Cups, with a goal in a 3-2 victory over Ghana.
These are important marks, which Bruno Fernandes will hardly have a chance to reach. But that doesn’t change his importance to the team. On the contrary, if the number 7 dreams of saying goodbye to the biggest stage in football with the unprecedented title, he depends a lot on his teammate’s football. Portugal too.
As a seasoned news journalist, I bring a wealth of experience to the field. I’ve worked with world-renowned news organizations, honing my skills as a writer and reporter. Currently, I write for the sports section at News Bulletin 247, where I bring a unique perspective to every story.
