Ronaldo spoke about being substituted after his double

Cristiano Ronaldo recently commented on being substituted in the Portugal national team's 2026 World Cup qualification match against Hungary (a 2:2 draw). Journalist Piers Morgan asked him: “You were substituted in the 77th minute after scoring a brace.

The opponent equalized in the final minutes. I can imagine how you felt at that moment.

If I were the coach, if Cristiano Ronaldo had scored two goals, I wouldn’t have substituted him. You would have done everything to score a third goal and win the game.

How did you feel after that substitution?” Ronaldo replied: “I understand you, but I also have to consider the coach’s position. Maybe he wanted to preserve the result and strengthen our defense by bringing on another player.

I understand that, and I have to respect the coach’s decision – after all, we all think differently. If I had stayed on the field, of course I would have tried to score a third goal.

But sometimes being substituted is also normal, even if you have scored two goals. It's not an issue for me anymore.

I’ve scored so many hat-tricks that it really doesn’t matter if I have one more or one less.”