The first message that Goncalo Ramos wanted to broadcast after his jaw-dropping World Cup debut was that Cristiano Ronaldo has and continues to be an inspiration.
As the captain and leader of this supremely talented Portuguese squad, Ronaldo - in the dressing-room ahead of the six-goal swatting of the Swiss - had been nothing but a positive influence on the 21-year-old striker and the rest of the starting eleven, Ramos insisted.
Fernando Santos, the veteran manager who dropped Ronaldo, followed the same narrative, acclaiming his skipper’s professionalism. It became a familiar theme when Portuguese players were asked about the Ronaldo situation.
The easy thing would be to say they protest too much. After all, selective evidence suggests Ronaldo pointedly kept himself apart from the celebrating huddles at the end of the win over Switzerland.
Selective evidence suggests he was sulking. But when a thousand lenses are trained on you the whole time, there will always be an image to fit the theme.
What did everyone expect Ronaldo to do when he was dropped for a World Cup knockout game? Turn cartwheels? Tell gags?
He celebrated Portugal’s goals as you would expect a squad member to do and posted this message to his zillion followers after the match: “Luxury display of a team full of talent and youth. Our selection is ro be congratulated. The dream is alive! To the end” Go ahead, Portugal!”
Yep, there are also zillions who will question his sincerity. And on the evidence of what Premier League followers have seen at Manchester United these past few months, you could not blame them.
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Even though he was a substitute, don’t forget he even walked out of a game before the final whistle.
But what Ronaldo so disappointingly failed to do for his club is what he should do for his country. Be there for the younger players as one of the greatest inspirations they could wish for. Be there as a mentor, be there as a motivator, accept your role has changed.
Time waits for no man and, as he bears down on his 38th birthday, Ronaldo simply has to accept his days as an automatic starter at the elite level - club and country - are over.
That does not mean he cannot lead. And it is just not as a motivational figure he can be a huge help, he can give individual tactical advice based on a bank of knowledge built up over two decades of excellence.
This is the sort of stuff he should have been doing at United but he could not stomach the idea of being down the playing pecking order.
And, of course, Ronaldo still offers a fantastic in-game alternative should Santos need it.
Who can confidently say Ronaldo could not yet prove to be a decisive figure in Portugal’s quest for eventual World Cup glory? A towering header in extra-time of one of the games, anyone? The final itself?
Comparisons with Lionel Messi ’s situation - the most undroppable man at this World Cup - are utterly spurious. Messi is two and a half years younger and in an Argentina squad that has nowhere near the depth of this Portugal squad.
Ronaldo now has a different role. He could sulk.
But, whether or not he is on the bench, he could still be the talisman, he could still be the one that leads by example, he could still be the leader, he could still enjoy the dignified and, possibly, glorious swansong his remarkable career so thoroughly deserves.
Over to you, Cristiano.
