Cristiano Ronaldo Chris Jones Qatar Spain Switzerland Portugal Morocco South Korea Sporting win cup Cristiano Ronaldo Chris Jones Qatar Spain Switzerland Portugal Morocco South Korea

Ronaldo's benching shows he needs to choose between his team and himself if he hopes to win World Cup

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Chris Jones is in Qatar covering the men's World Cup for CBC Sports. Everyone has an engine, and we all have a choice of fuels.

In the waning years of Cristiano Ronaldo's career, as in his youth, as in his middle age, he's decided to be driven by rage.

But for the first time in his life, it's no longer working as a propellant. It's turned to poison. On Tuesday night at Lusail Stadium, the conversation before, during, and after Portugal's Round of 16 matchup against Switzerland revolved around a 37-year-old substitute: The great Ronaldo had been benched.

In a tournament that has not been short of narrative, Gonçalo Ramos, the 21-year-old who started in Ronaldo's place, opened Portuguese accounts with a rocket in the 17th minute.

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DOHA: Cristiano Ronaldo choked up with emotion as the tears ran down his cheeks. He momentarily covered his face with his hand, but couldn’t hide his disappointment. This moment was too big.
Cristiano Ronaldo left the World Cup in tears on Saturday, walking off down the tunnel with his dreams of winning the trophy in tatters.

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