Fernando Santos reveals whether he regrets Cristiano Ronaldo benching

Fernando Santos has defended his decision to again drop Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal’s starting lineup following their surprise elimination from the World Cup at the hands of Morocco.

Ronaldo was again benched by Santos for the quarter-final tie, having also been omitted from the Portugal team that obliterated Switzerland 6-1 in the round of 16.

Santos brought Ronaldo off the bench in both matches but the 37-year-old was unable to make a decisive contribution and now looks set to end his career without a single World Cup knockout goal to his name.

Ronaldo left the pitch in tears shortly after the full-time whistle, heading down the tunnel as the Moroccan players celebrated and his Portugal teammates consoled each other on the pitch.

Asked after the game if he had made a mistake in benching Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer, Santos replied: “I don’t think so, no regrets.

“I think this was a team which played very well against Switzerland. Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets.

“If we take two persons that were the most upset it is Cristiano Ronaldo and myself. Of course we are upset, but that is part of the job of the coach and the player.”

With Ronaldo just two months shy of his 38th birthday, it seems highly unlikely that he will feature at another World Cup and he may look back on this competition as a missed opportunity.

He is also without a club currently after his second stint at Manchester United ended in acrimonious circumstances last month. Ronaldo criticised the club’s players, manager and hierarchy in a controversial interview with Piers Morgan, and a mutual termination of his contract was quickly confirmed.