Cristiano Ronaldo has been axed by Portugal manager Fernando Santos for Tuesday night's World Cup game against Switzerland.
Ronaldo, 37, started all three of Portugal's group-stage fixtures but was substituted in their most recent game against South Korea, which ended in a 2-1 defeat. Santos admitted he was annoyed with the free agent's angry reaction to his withdrawal.
Ronaldo's axe is the latest blow for the former Manchester United forward, who left Old Trafford after his contract was terminated by mutual consent last month. The veteran forward has struggled for goals this season, managing just one in 10 Premier League fixtures.
The Real Madrid legend hit the headlines on Friday after putting his finger to his mouth while being substituted by Santos. Ronaldo has admitted the gesture was directed at a South Korean player and not Santos, but the episode still annoyed the Portugal boss.
"When the game ended, I went to the flash [interview] and then I went to the press conference," Santos explained. "I repeat: on the field, I didn't hear anything, I was very far away and I only heard that he was arguing with the Korean player.
"Have I seen the images later? Yes. Did I like it? No. I really didn't like it at all. But from there, those issues are resolved at home and it's time to think about tomorrow's game, which we are all focused on."
In defence of his actions, Ronaldo said: "Before my substitution, one of their [South Korea's] players was telling me to leave quickly. I told him to shut up, he has no authority, he doesn’t have to say anything."
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In Ronaldo's place, Santos started Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos up front against Switzerland alongside Joao Felix, with Bruno Fernandes supporting the attack. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's dropping came a matter of hours after he posted an impassioned message to his teammates.
"Today is for Portugal!" wrote Ronaldo on Instagram. "For the Portuguese! For us and for ours! Today is for all the dreams that we carry in each one of us! Let's do everything."
Elsewhere in his starting XI, Santos picked a midfield of Porto's Otavio, Real Betis' William Carvalho and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva. Porto's Diogo Costa was entrusted with goalkeeping duties and his defence consisted of United's Diogo Dalot, Porto's Pepe, City's Ruben Dias and Borussia Dortmund's Raphael Guerreiro.
Ronaldo serves as Portugal captain but without him in the line-up, Santos handed the armband to Pepe. The Real Madrid legend, 39, is one of the oldest players at the World Cup in Qatar but remains an important figure for his country.
