A Portugal star has now revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo really reacted to being benched at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
After A Selecao made it past the group stage in the Middle East, the 38-year-old was omitted from the team's starting line-up for two straight World Cup knockout matches as manager Fernando Santos opted for a younger option in Goncalo Ramos up front.
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Ramos repaid the former Portugal boss' faith in him with a hat-trick in their 6-1 win over Switzerland in the round of 16, before Morocco knocked the European nation out of the competition in the Benfica striker's second start for the team.
The decision to drop Ronaldo to the bench came after he appeared to be livid at being substituted off in Portugal's final Group H game against South Korea, which ended in a 2-1 defeat.
Santos later revealed that he did not take kindly to the veteran's public reaction, with the relationship between the pair said to have gone downhill from there.
There was later speculation that Ronaldo had even threatened to leave the tournament early as a result, but the Portuguese Football Federation released a statement refuting this.
A Selecao forward Joao Felix, who recently joined Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid, has now shed light on how the former Manchester United superstar reacted to being dropped to the bench for his country in Qatar.
"We were surprised, because seeing Cristiano on the bench is not something you're used to," the 23-year-old told Spanish outlet Diario AS.
"But it was the gaffer's decision: he’s the one who calls the shots.
"Cristiano reacted really well, because we were all pulling in the same direction and creating positive vibes.
"His reaction was really good for the rest of us, because he looked to give the team confidence and make it clear that we were all in this together.
"It was really good for us and he just kept on being a real help in every way.”
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Felix also revealed why he thinks Ronaldo's time in Europe is done following his move to Saudi giants Al Nassr at the turn of the year.
"There was nothing left for him to win in Europe," the Blues attacker explained, per Goal.
"He's written his name into the history books, and now he's going to write his name into the history books in Saudi Arabia."
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