Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of Portugal's team to play Switzerland in Tuesday night's World Cup last 16 match.
Portugal boss Fernando Santos made the huge call after a week of controversy involving the former Manchester United star.
Ronaldo, 37, was visibly angry after being taken off in Portugal's final group game against South Korea amid reports he criticised his manager while sulking on the sidelines.
Santos said before dropping him for the last 16 match: "Right after the match, I spoke in the flash interview, and then went to the press conference, and there I said something I'll repeat here: on the pitch, I didn't hear anything.
"I was too far [away], and this is why I only saw him arguing with a South Korean player, and nothing else. Have I already watched the footage? Yes. I didn't like it. Didn't like it at all."
Speaking on ITV's coverage ahead of Portugal's clash against Switzerland, former Chelsea star Joe Cole said of Ronaldo's axing: "Well that is a bold, brave decision by the manager. I suppose it's easier to make when you've won trophies for your country.
"I don't think anyone's name stands close to Ronaldo's name in Portugal but the manager's name is powerful, he's done great things for that country. I think he would have deliberated over it.
"Obviously Ronaldo isn't playing as well, he isn't playing at his club, hasn't lit up the tournament so far, it's a brave, bold decision and we'll know in two or three hours if it'll have worked."
Gary Neville agreed with Cole's assessment and referenced back to how United manager Ten Hag had handled Ronaldo at Old Trafford. The former United defender said: "When it happened it United it was the suggestion it was because ten Hag was trying to make a move on him, establish his authority.
"This is a manager who's got an unbelievable relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo for eight years and there are a lot of fans of Cristiano Ronaldo who aren't willing to tell him the truth and I think he does need to listen to the truth, that it's becoming a little bit of a scruffy end. It wouldn't surprise me if he came on tonight and scored the winner, but the petulance, the stomping around, the sulking, it's got to stop because it doesn't reflect on him well."
