RAM RAID

Ronaldo's history as new boy Goncalo hits treble

SWITZERLAND weren't the only ones left hit for six last night.

That's because Cristiano Ronaldo is waking up to a fact he considered unthinkable that Portugal are a much better side without him.

Who'd have thought it, eh? Not the man himself, that's for sure, because an ego the size of his won't allow someone like Ronaldo to accept he's no longer needed when the serious stuff starts.

But here in the Lusail Stadium last night one of the game's true greats had to sit and watch from the sidelines as Portugal cruised into the quarter-finals.

And while he'll struggle to accept it being true, what he saw was a more functional and united team which didn't feel the need to give him the ball when in possession or the need to carry him when out of it.

The axed Ronaldo also had a glimpse into the future and it came in the shape of the bloke who replaced him, to remind us all just who is now in the past.