The Portuguese FA has denied a report that suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the World Cup squad after a conversation with the head coach. After learning he would not play against Switzerland in the last-16 match, which Portugal won 6-1, Ronaldo reportedly warned his coach he might quit Qatar before calming down and realized his departure could have a negative effect on the team. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Portugal Football Federation, which supported Ronaldo’s legacy and devotion to the squad, refuted this version of events.
“According to news stories published on Thursday, Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to quit the national team while speaking with Fernando Santos, the head coach,” the Portuguese FA said in a statement. “Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of the national team, never made any threats to leave the squad while he was an intern there, according to the FPF, and he continues to establish an exceptional record every day that he spends representing his nation and the national team. This accomplishment must be acknowledged and demonstrates his unwavering level of dedication to the team.”
After the match, a statement said, “In addition, the player with the most caps for Portugal demonstrated his level of devotion once more, if necessary, in the victory over Switzerland in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. The national squad made up of the players, coaches, and FPF organization is as excited and committed as ever to making Portugal’s best-ever World Cup campaign.”
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