Ronaldo unable to prevent Portugal's exit in another substitute appearance

Portugal head coach Fernando Santos used Cristiano Ronaldo off the bench again in Saturday's 1-0 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Morocco after urging the media to give the attacker a break from "the controversies."

The Portuguese Football Federation denied reports Thursday that the Portugal captain threatened to leave his country's World Cup camp after being told he was dropped for Tuesday's lopsided last-16 win over Switzerland. Ronaldo also responded to the speculation by underlining the team's bonds that apparently make it impermeable to "external forces" and "any adversary."

Ronaldo was first benched after he angrily reacted to his substitution during the group-stage defeat to South Korea on Dec. 2. His replacement for the following match against Switzerland, 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos, scored a hat-trick in his first start for Portugal's senior side and kept his place in Santos' XI for the meeting with Morocco.

Ronaldo was brought on in Ruben Neves' place in the 51st minute. He touched the ball 10 times and mustered a single shot on target before the final whistle sounded on a historic result for African football.

"He has never told me that he wanted to leave our national team," Santos insisted Friday during another press conference dominated by questions about Ronaldo, according to BBC Sport.

"It's high time we stop with this conversation, stop the controversies. It's high time for you to leave Ronaldo alone, in acknowledgment for what he's done for Portuguese football."

Santos detailed what happened in his conversation with Ronaldo when he revealed the 37-year-old was among the substitutes for the clash with Switzerland. The experienced forward had started in each of the Selecao's previous three matches in Qatar.

"I spoke to him after lunch on the day of the game and invited him into my office," Santos said. "For obvious reasons, Cristiano was not very happy about it as he has always been the starting player.

"He told me: 'Do you really think it's a good idea?'

"But we had a normal conversation in which I explained my viewpoints and, of course, he accepted them. We had a frank and normal conversation."

There have been concerns over Ronaldo's behavior following a fractious few months at Manchester United that led to the mutual termination of his contract in November. Before a tell-all interview with Piers Morgan effectively ended his second spell with the Red Devils, Ronaldo angered United head coach Erik ten Hag for leaving two matches early - the latter incident also included him refusing to come on as a substitute - and being visibly frustrated when he was withdrawn during another game.

He also requested a transfer from Manchester United last summer, but no move transpired. Ronaldo is now a free agent and has been linked with a lucrative deal to join Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.