Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Teko Modise believes that Cristiano Ronaldo may have to accept a change in role and become more supportive of his teammates instead of being the main man.
The 37-year-old started his first World Cup game since 2006 on the bench, as Portugal coach Fernando Santos opted to field Goncalo Ramos over the all-time record goalscorer.
Santos’ faith was rewarded after Ramos scored the first hat-trick of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, leading Portugal to a 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland.
Modise discussed Ronaldo’s change in role after the match saying perhaps it’s time for the Portugal captain to take a step back and lead his younger teammates from a more supportive role.
“For so many years, every team that Ronaldo played for, he’s been the go-to guy, he’s been very fantastic in goal scoring,” Modise said on SuperSport TV.
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“But if you look at him right now and the space that he’s in, I think he’s at a space where he needs to be very supportive of his teammates and probably with that support going to all these youngsters, all these youngsters that are looking up to him.
“I think if he supports them better, I think it will also make the dressing room better, maybe from the coaches they can speak about the importance of the dressing room from a senior player like Ronaldo that has been able to support it.
“We’ve seen Ronaldo being substituted before, coaching on the sidelines also. Probably his Portuguese people want to see that Ronaldo again, if he is not playing that he’s being supportive.”
Portugal have reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 2006 when they finished in fourth place and will face Morocco in Saturday’s last eight clash.
