In a historic change, Cristiano Ronaldo was unexpectedly not playing for Portugal in their match against Sweden. This was the first time in 17 years that someone else wore the No 7 jersey for the team.
Ronaldo’s absence created a chance for Bruma to show his skills. He didn’t waste it and scored a goal just 11 minutes after replacing Leao.
Bruma, who is 29 years old, scored twice, helping Portugal win 4-0 against Sweden. This ended his four-month international scoring drought since October 2018.
Even without Ronaldo, Portugal showed their strength by defeating Sweden 5-2 in their first match of the year. This shows that Portugal can still perform well even without their star player.
Senior players like Ronaldo were part of the 23-man team selected by RTM but were given a break for the first match.
During his break, Cristiano Ronaldo spent time with his family in Saudi Arabia. He is expected to return to play on Tuesday for Portugal’s friendly match against Slovenia.
Ronaldo’s absence indicates a change for the national team as they move forward. While Ronaldo is still committed to the team, he has said he’ll focus on playing until the next European Championship in 2024.
