Ronaldo in tears after elimination; ex-England striker slams him: 'You are the reason we lost'

Portugal's exit from the tournament was met with harsh criticism, particularly directed at captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Following a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16, former England international Chris Sutton did not hold back, stating that many Portuguese players likely felt Ronaldo was the reason for their elimination. Sutton argued that Ronaldo's presence hindered the team, especially in the latter stages of the match. He also expressed bewilderment over coach Roberto Martínez's decision not to field Gonçalo Ramos, who had previously scored a hat-trick against Switzerland. Sutton suggested this was a "sramota" (disgrace) and an example of the coach favoring his star player. Wayne Rooney, a former teammate of Ronaldo, offered a more measured perspective, calling Ronaldo a "superstar" and acknowledging his significant contributions to football. However, Rooney also noted that time catches up with everyone and that Ronaldo would be disappointed not to have won the tournament. Sutton concluded by reiterating that Portugal's elimination was due to coach Roberto Martínez's decisions, particularly his reluctance to bench Ronaldo and give Ramos a chance.