Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence after being dropped by Fernando Santos for Portugal's last-16 tie with Switzerland on Tuesday evening.
Santos made the decision to drop Ronaldo after he reacted angrily to being taken off during Portugal's final group game against South Korea last Friday.
Ronaldo - who came off the bench for the final 17 minutes of Portugal's tie with Switzerland - 'congratulated' Santos for his selection after their 6-1 win.
Ronaldo took to Instagram shortly after the game to share two pictures. The first was of himself and his team-mates celebrating after Rafael Leao scored Portugal's final goal.
The second picture was of Ronaldo celebrating with his team-mates while wearing a substitutes bib. He wrote the accompanying caption: 'Amazing day for Portugal, with a historic result in the biggest event in world football.
'Luxury display of a team full of talent and youth. Our Selection is to be congratulated. The dream is alive! To the end! Go ahead, Portugal!'.
Ronaldo, who has one goal in the tournament so far, started every group match but reacted angrily to being substituted in his team's 2-1 defeat by South Korea last week.
Santos admitted he was angry with Ronaldo's behaviour after their triumph over South Korea. He said: 'If I see the images, yes, I didn't like it, not at all. I really didn't like it.
'Everything is finished, full stop, regarding that issue and now we have to think about the match and everyone is focused on the match.
'I only decide who is going to be the captain when I reach the stadium so I don't know the line-up.
'That's what I've always done and that's what I'm always going to do. It's going to be the same with this match.'
Santos decided to leave Ronaldo out of his starting XI for Portugal's last-16 tie with Switzerland. Instead, he selected Goncalo Ramos.
The 21-year-old made the most of his first international start by scoring three well-taken goals which included a thunderous strike to get off the mark, and a lovely dinked finish to complete his hat-trick.
However, speaking after the game he said Ronaldo was still an 'important player' and even referred to his as his 'idol'.