Santos:Ronaldo role to be defined

Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo was on the bench for last 16 match against Switzerland

Cristiano Ronaldo's role for the remainder of the World Cup is something that has to be "defined", Portugal boss Fernando Santos said after dropping his captain for their emphatic last-16 win over Switzerland.

The 37-year-old watched from the bench as his replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in the 6-1 win to set up a quarter-final against Morocco.

Ronaldo, who did not start at a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2008, was eventually brought on as a 74th-minute substitute with Portugal 5-1 up.

Ronaldo left Manchester United last month under a cloud and has at times cast a shadow over his team in Qatar, where his manager expressed unhappiness about his reaction to being substituted against South Korea.

Asked about Ronaldo after the Switzerland win, Santos said: "That is still something that has to be defined

"I have a very close relationship with him - I always have, I have known him since he was 19 years old.

"This relationship only develops, Ronaldo and I never interpret the human aspect of that of manager and player (in relation to) what we have to do during the match.

Ronaldo breezed through the post-match interview area with a huge grin on his face, only responding to one question: Was he happy? "Of course, of course," he said with a smile. "Portugal won."

Meanwhile, Ronaldo's replacement Ramos says the former Real Madrid forward remains the team's "leader".

The 21-year-old said: "Cristiano Ronaldo talks to me and everyone in the team. He's our leader and always tries to help.

Portugal will now face Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday, kick-off 3pm. The winner of that game will play either England or France in the World Cup semi-final