In the perception of many fans watching in the stadiums in Qatar, the big-name teams are, above all, one big-name man.

At Brazil, they cheer when Neymar outsmarts everyone.

In France, they are amazed when Kylian Mbappé runs away from everyone.

At Argentina, they throw their arms out in awe when Lionel Messi dribbles everyone out.

And in Portugal, they look spellbound when Cristiano Ronaldo kicks the free-kick everywhere with his legs apart.

Tobias Rabe

Responsible editor for Sport Online.

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In the eyes of many pundits, not all of whom are watching in Qatar's stadiums, these big-name teams are made up of a few other men - not just to play by the rules of the game.

At Brazil, Casemiro is keeping the team together as Neymar recovers from injury and the ball artists can shine.

At France, Olivier Giroud scores goals in record numbers when Mbappé is bogged down.

At Argentina, Enzo Fernández cleans up when Messi loses the ball.

And with Portugal?

Who will help if Ronaldo's shot doesn't sit after the cowboy show?

A trail leads to Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes.

His World Cup record reads as monotonously as it does monumentally: two games, two goals, two assists.

The fact that he was not allowed to play three games for Portugal is due to another number: a yellow card.

After a second, he would have been banned for the round of 16 against Switzerland this Tuesday (8:00 p.m. CET in the FAZ live ticker for the World Cup, on ARD and on MagentaTV).

Portugal coach Fernando Santos didn't want to take that risk in the last group match against South Korea.

Not only does the goal and assist balance say something about the importance of Fernandes, but also this measure by his coach.

"I don't have a problem with anyone"

Ronaldo's 2022 World Cup statistics read modestly in comparison: one goal, no assist.

If it was up to him, it would be two goals.

In the duel with Uruguay, Fernandes crossed, Ronaldo flew, the ball into the goal.

But had Ronaldo really touched him?

The vain Fernandes didn't care, the vain Ronaldo didn't.

The world association tried the sensor technology that is included in every ball for semi-automatic offside detection.

The result: no touch from Ronaldo, goal for Fernandes.

He took the debate calmly.

"We know Ronaldo is a striker and he's out for goals," he said.

In fact, who should know better than Fernandes, who not only plays with the first-person shooter in the national team, but also played for Manchester United until Ronaldo's contract was recently terminated.

That's where the twenty-eight-year-old made it big.

Before that, Fernandes went down an unusual career path.

At the age of 18 he moved to Italy from Boavista Porto youth.

He returned home via Novara Calcio, Udinese Calcio and Sampdoria Genoa – to Sporting Lisbon, the club from which Ronaldo also comes.

In January 2020 he moved to Manchester.

The following Corona season was his strongest.

Fernandes became the head of the team before club legend Ronaldo returned in August 2021.

The old master crowded into Fernandes' territory.

Its performance suffered.

The teamwork works better for Portugal, thanks in no small part to Bernardo Silva, who supports him in midfield before the ball is supposed to reach Ronaldo up front.

Fernandes' strengths are actually more evident in assists than goals at this World Cup.

They came from a cross that Ronaldo didn't touch and a penalty.

The assists against Ghana, however, showed how cleverly he can use his team-mates.

It is not only for this that he is valued.

Fernandes is a guy who has no problem being in the second row.

He confidently moderates the excitement surrounding Ronaldo.

Shortly before the World Cup, the star had just heavily criticized Manchester United in an interview, a video went viral showing how Fernandes greeted Ronaldo distantly.

The speculation about a supercooled relationship was hotly debated.

All just for fun, Fernandes said with a smile: "I don't have a problem with anyone." You want to believe this balancing character immediately.

Midfielder William Carvalho confirms the appreciation: "Bruno can help the group with his style and personality."

At the 2018 World Cup, Fernandes missed the third group match against Iran, while Portugal were knocked out of the tournament against Uruguay in the round of 16.

At last year's European Championship he was absent from the starting XI in the third group game against France, while Portugal lost to Belgium in the round of 16.

It is unlikely that Bruno Fernandes will not play against Switzerland from the start after missing the third game against South Korea.

It's possible that fans in Qatar will soon be cheering on more than just Portugal's biggest name.