‘Who needs Cristiano Ronaldo tonight?’

Fernando Santos’ huge call to drop Cristiano Ronaldo could have been the last of his career, but thanks to Goncalo Ramos, it was a masterstroke.

The first hat-trick of the 2022 World Cup was buried by the Benfica youngster in arguably the best individual performance so far, likely leaving Ronaldo shell shocked during the 5-1 win over Switzerland.

A dressing room that has been under his and Santos’ control since 2014 was best epitomised by the image of the two standing together on the touchline at Euro 2016 as they coached the nation to a first major trophy.

However, as Portugal slumped out of the preceding two tournaments at the Round of 16 stage, both of the inseparable duo came under fire by media back home, with fans calling time on their careers.

Even with Ronaldo’s shocking pre-tournament interview and lack of form heading to Qatar, that bond appeared unbreakable, all the way up to a bombshell press conference on Monday afternoon.

When Santos was asked about Ronaldo’s perceived sulk and complaints at the manager after a 65th minute substitution against South Korea, the media were expecting a standard defence of his star man, but for once it didn’t come.

“Have I seen the images when Ronaldo was subbed? Yes. Did I not like what I saw? No, I didn’t like it one bit,” Santos said.

Wait, did Santos just criticise Ronaldo? Did the one man Ronaldo couldn’t upset in football finally turn on him too?

Well, those questions were answered an hour before kick-off at the Lusail Stadium when Santos released a Ronaldo-less Portugal team sheet for the first time at a major tournament since 2008.

Any shockwaves across the footballing world were likely uncomparable to a dressing room that constantly had to defend their hero after his interview, with the start of the tournament plagued by distractions of repeated questions, and then a Manchester United contract cancellation.

In one foul swoop all of that tension reached fever pitch, but fortunately for Santos, there was a 21-year-old star without a care in the world lacing up his boots.

And after just 17 minutes against a dangerous Swiss side, he had one shot in the net, before adding two more of the highest quality.

“Cristiano Ronaldo left out, a monumental call, it could not have gone any better for Fernando Santos,” talkSPORT’s Jim Proudfoot said. 

“Ramos has written his name in Portuguese folklore, he’s fired them through to the last eight of the World Cup for the first time in 16 years, who needs Ronaldo? Not Portugal tonight.

“If Portugal ever wondered who’s going to take the reins from their mystical no.7, they might just have the answer.”

“It’s a masterstroke from Fernando Santos,” England legend Stuart Pearce added.

“Portugal have stumbled on a player who will no doubt be starting the next game. He’s got the shirt at the minute.

“There’s times as a manager you make judgement calls and you hope they’re right, he’ll be sat there so smug it’s incredible.

“This young man has scored three absolutely outstanding goals, the first one showed how much power he can generate, the next one his movement across the defender and the third one composure as he goes through.

“Portugal might have uncovered not just one for the future, but for the immediate future.”

The tournament began with Ronaldo chasing just a few of the accolades he’s never achieved in an incredible career as one of sport’s all-time greats.

A World Cup has proved elusive after four previous attempts, and so has a knockout goal.

Club and international football’s all-time top scorer was also well aware he needed one more World Cup goal to beat Eusebio’s record for Portugal, hence desperation for a touch on Bruno Fernandes’ cross against Uruguay.

His late substitute appearance, his first off the bench for Portugal at a major tournament since 2004, ensured he’s now one cap from the all-time record, but his knockout goal didn’t come in the rout.

Now though, Ramos has three, blasting Portugal into the final eight of a World Cup for the first time in 16 years.

Reports in Spain claim Ronaldo has agreed a blockbuster deal with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr to become the world’s highest paid football player, marking a steep climb down from the top of the game.

Should those reports prove to be true, Qatar 2022 may be a last hurrah for Ronaldo in elite level football, and Ramos may have just ended his farewell early.