Georgina Rodriguez Posts Statement On Cristiano Ronaldo's Benching After Portugal Shine Without Him

Georgina Rodriguez has posted a statement urging coach Fernando Santos to reinstate Cristiano Ronaldo in his starting XI for Portugal's next World Cup game.

Portugal produced their best team performance in years on Tuesday night to thrash Switzerland 6-1 in the round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The headline news before the game was that Cristiano Ronaldo had been benched by Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who was said to have been disappointed with the 37-year-old's body language during Portugal's 2-1 loss to South Korea in the group stage.

Benfica forward Goncalo Ramos, 21, replaced Ronaldo in the starting XI and rewarded his manager's faith in him by scoring a hat-trick on his first ever World Cup start.

Ramos also provided an assist in a dominating 74-minute outing.

2008 - Cristiano Ronaldo is not starting a game for Portugal at a major tournament for the first time since 2008 (also against Switzerland), ending a 31-game streak. Benched. pic.twitter.com/LW7MekodRa

— OptaJoao (@OptaJoao) December 6, 2022

3 - Gonçalo Ramos is the first player to score a hat-trick on his first #FIFAWorldCup start since Miroslav Klose for Germany in 2002. Midas. pic.twitter.com/AN976d87hP

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 6, 2022

Defenders Pepe and Raphael Guerreiro joined Ramos on the scoresheet for Portugal, while Manuel Akanji netted a consolation strike for Switzerland.

Ronaldo had been the center of attention before the match as hundreds of cameras focused on him during the national anthems, rather than the eleven starters.

Indeed, a huge chunk of the reported 83,720 fans in attendance at Lusail Stadium had come to see Ronaldo over Portugal.

After chanting his name relentlessly throughout the second half, those fans got their wish in the 74th minute when Ronaldo replaced Ramos.

Ronaldo had the ball in the net soon after but was well offside.

Rafael Leao then came on for the final three minutes and marked his cameo with a fine goal.

Seven goals in 🇵🇹 🆚 🇨🇭. They're all right here. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/OfxFuFXdqL

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 7, 2022

Portugal had looked like a well-oiled team without Ronaldo.

With him, they appeared slightly disjointed.

This was not only evidenced by what happened during the match.

After it, Ronaldo approached the Portugal fans by himself to soak up their adoration before leaving the rest of his teammates to celebrate together.

A brilliant team performance from Portugal.

The fans here love Cristiano Ronaldo but you sense his teammates are growing less fond of him.

Ronaldo saluted the crowd by himself at the end of the game before leaving the field alone while the rest of the squad celebrated together. pic.twitter.com/bkpuVIavKZ

— Robert Summerscales (@robsummerscales) December 6, 2022

Georgina Rodriguez Urges Fernando Santos To Un-Bench Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal will play Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday and it will be very hard for Santos to select Ronaldo ahead of hat-trick hero Ramos.

But Ronaldo's girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, is hoping that Santos will give the fans what they want by starting "the best player in the world".

Posting on Instagram after Portugal beat Switzerland, Rodriguez wrote: "Congratulations Portugal. While the 11 players sang the anthem, all eyes were on you. What a shame not to have been able to enjoy the best player in the world for 90 minutes.

"The fans did not stop asking for you and shouting your name. May God and your dear friend Fernando continue hand in hand and make us vibrate one more night."

Georgina Rodriguez pictured (center) watching Portugal vs Switzerland after her boyfriend, Cristiano Ronaldo, was dropped from the starting XI :: IMAGO/PA Images/Mike Egerton