Ronaldo reacts to Portugal's win over Norway after 18-year bench absence

Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo issued a short response via social media after his national team defeated Norway 2-1 on Sunday evening in the UEFA Nations League. The former captain did not feature in the match, remaining on the substitutes' bench until the final whistle despite being available for selection.

Instagram post follows victory

Hours after the conclusion of the game, Ronaldo shared a message on his Instagram account. He reposted an image from the official Portugal national team publication celebrating the win over Norway. Accompanying the visual, he wrote the single word "Let's go," followed by a fire emoji.

This concise digital reaction contrasted with his commentary following the previous round. After Portugal’s 1-0 victory against Wales in the opening fixture, where Ronaldo started the match, he had posted a longer statement reading: "The first step has been achieved. Let's go Portugal."

First bench appearance since 2008

The decision to leave Ronaldo out of the starting lineup carries significant historical weight for the national team setup. At 41 years old, the forward was fit and ready to play but remained unused throughout the contest.

This marks the first occasion in more than 18 years that Ronaldo has been listed as a substitute for a competitive international match involving Portugal. The last instance of him beginning a game on the bench dates back to the UEFA European Championship in 2008.