Portugal releases statement on reports regarding Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave National Team

Cristiano will be hoping to take on a bigger role for Portugal, when Santos’ team returns to action on Saturday against Morocco in the quarterfinals.

Portugal has denied claims that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to quit the team after being benched against Switzerland.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was only given a spot on the World Cup last-16 roster by Fernando Santos after becoming enraged when he was taken off against South Korea in the last group stage match. In a crushing 6-1 victory, he was given 17 minutes, but his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, scored a fantastic hat-trick, and according to Record, he had showdown conversations in which he made a hint about leaving the Portuguese team.

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The Portuguese FA responded to those claims with the following statement: “News released this Thursday reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos, national coach. The FPF clarifies that at no time did the captain of the National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo, threaten to leave the national team in Qatar.”

Ronaldo has accumulated 195 caps for his nation over the past 19 years and currently holds the record for most goals scored in men’s international football history (118). Meanwhile, Cristiano will be hoping to take on a bigger role for Portugal, of which he is still a member, when Santos’ team returns to action on Saturday against Morocco in the quarterfinals.