70% of Portugal fans want Cristiano Ronaldo benched for last 16 tie | OneFootball

According to a poll carried out by Portuguese outlet A Bola, a sizeable majority of Portugal fans want former Manchester United attacker Cristiano Ronaldo to be dropped for his team’s World Cup last 16 tie with Switzerland this week.

In a vote on the outlet’s website asking if Ronaldo should keep his place in Fernando Santos’ starting team for the knockout tie against the Swiss on Tuesday, only 30% of supporters responded favourably while seven out of ten people said the 37-year-old should be left out for the second round game.

A similar split was seen in the comments below the vote with some supporting the player but others suggesting his fitness is an issue while some pointed to the explosive interview Ronaldo gave to Piers Morgan on the eve of the tournament which heavily criticised Manchester United and his coach Erik Ten Hag. The fallout eventually resulted in Ronaldo leaving the club by mutual agreement. Some Portugal fans, it seems, are worried about a similar situation affecting the national team with the form of fellow striker Rafael Leão’s off the bench also a factor.