Portugal's match against Switzerland was in its final stages when a great cry of "Ronaldo" went up. With 16 minutes to go, the fans got their reward: on came their hero!

But it was hardly a moment of glory. It was the first time since 2008 that Portugal had used Ronaldo as a substitute, not part of the starting eleven. And they had done incredibly well without him. By the time he came on, they were 5-1 up. 

In the words of one expert, Portugal looked "a more vibrantLively., fluid and threatening side" without him.

Ronaldo had started the tournament full of hope. In Portugal's first game, against Ghana, he became the first player to score at five World Cups.

But in Portugal's 2-1 defeat by South Korea, he was substituted with 25 minutes to go. His petulantChildish and bad-tempered. reaction was criticised by his manager - and may have been one reason he was dropped for the Swiss match. 

It is a pattern that has become clear over the past couple of years.

In 2018 he joined the Italian club Juventus. But even though he was Serie AThe top Italian professional men's football league.'s top scorer in 2020-2021, Juventus decided to sell him. According to one journalist, this was partly because his wages were so high, but also "because of how little in their mind he is contributing".

In August 2021 he rejoined Manchester United - and became the club's top goal scorer for the season. But there were reports of arguments with his team mates and manager.

Things got worse with the arrival of a new manager, Erik ten Hag. When Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham, Ten Hag dropped him from the squad.

Ronaldo then gave an interview criticising the manager and the club. So Manchester United fired him.

Ronaldo's problem, some say, is that he still wants to be seen as the star of any team, even though he is past his best.

Yes: It gives us an inflated sense of our own importance, so that instead of giving respect to others and acting as part of a team, we think that everything revolves around us. Ronaldo is guilty of this.

No: Ego is our best friend. You cannot get anywhere in life if you do not have self-belief, which is what ego provides. Ronaldo is right to recognise his own amazing gifts and demand respect for them.

Or... Ronaldo cannot be blamed for having a high opinion of himself. He is one of the best footballers ever, as people have been telling him since he was a teenager, and he lives in a bubble of stardom.