After Ronaldo was excluded from the Portugal-Switzerland match.. Portugal coach, we have to leave Ronaldo

Ironically, his replacement, Benfica's young striker Goncalo Ramos (21 years), succeeded in stealing the limelight from him by scoring a wonderful hat-trick, the first in this World Cup, thus becoming the second youngest player to achieve this achievement in the knockout stages after the legend Pele in 1958.

During a press conference in Doha on the eve of facing Morocco in the quarter-finals, Santos touched on this issue, saying: Ronaldo and I had a conversation. It would have been too bad if we hadn't had a conversation. Since I took the training I have always done that. I talk and strengthen my relationship with them.

He added: I will not say that I do this with all the players, but he is the captain of the national team, and because he is what he represents for Portuguese football and the Portuguese people.

Santos continued that the conversation: It was the day of the match after lunch. I haven't spoken to him before. I explained to him why he would not participate in the main. I explained to him not to be surprised, and invited him to my office and told him to listen. this is my strategy. I thought the match was going to be tough and I wanted to keep him for the second half.

And he added: He was not happy with this decision. And he said to me, "Do you really think that's a good idea?" I explained my point of view to him and he accepted my decision.

Ronaldo's cars stop traffic in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon

Portuguese newspaper Record reported Thursday that Ronaldo had threatened to leave after a fraught conversation with Santos.

And while the local federation of the game denied this news completely, Santos said: He never told me that he wanted to leave the national team. It is time to stop this argument. Ronaldo was the one who started warming up with his team mates and celebrated all the goals. He invited his teammates to shake hands with the fans. It's time to leave Ronaldo alone, he is very important to Portuguese football.