Cristiano Ronaldo’s rare bench milestone in Portugal’s Norway win

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's renowned captain, made a historic decision during the UEFA Nations League match against Norway. Despite being fully fit and having warmed up during the closing stages, Ronaldo chose to start the game from the bench. This marked the first time in over 18 years that Ronaldo had missed playing a single minute in an official match for Portugal, even though he was available.

This unique occurrence occurred on June 15, 2008, when Portugal faced Switzerland during the Euro 2008 final group-stage match. Luiz Felipe Scolari, Portugal's coach at the time, made significant changes after securing qualification for the quarter-finals, leaving Ronaldo on the bench once again. Following the match, Jorge Jesus, Portugal's current manager, revealed that he had initially planned to bring Ronaldo on for the final 30 minutes of the game.

However, Gonçalo Ramos' impressive performance led to a change in strategy, resulting in Ronaldo's bench role. Jesus emphasized that Ronaldo's absence was not due to fitness concerns, assuring that the player remains an integral part of his plans.