Uruguay star Edinson Cavani looks unlikely to feature for his country in their quarter final encounter with France following an injury he picked up during the side's win over Portugal. The Uruguayans are an elite defensive group, with a midfield that dominated Portugal and never allowed Ronaldo to take over like he has so many times before.
Goalless series Ronaldo in the knockout stage of the world Championships reached 514 minutes.
Portugal, after their impressive performances in four matches, will go home, and Real Madrid forward Ronaldo's fourth World Cup journey finished earlier than expected.
Uruguay are the only team in the competition yet to concede a goal after their three group games. The footballer refused to answer the question about the future of the coaching staff and players.
In scoring twice against Argentina, Mbappe became the first teenager with multiple goals in a World Cup knockout game since a 17-year-old Pele did it twice (including a hat trick against France) in 1958.
"No team can win with one player alone", Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.
Cristiano Ronaldo says that though Portugal were knocked out in the World Cup Round of 16, he is "absolutely convinced" the team will continue to be one of the best in the world.
"The distinctive feature of the game was the dedication the players showed on the pitch, and that is the way that we see football", he told reporters after the game. "There is no better place than a World Cup".
Edinson Cavani struck a brace of brilliant goals in the last-16 tie, either side of a Pepe header, but despite having the lion's share of possession, Portugal could not break down Uruguay's well-drilled defence a second time.
"He's always the best player in the world", he said.
When Portugal's football legend Luis Figo captained his national team to the semi-final of the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo scored his first World Cup goal.
Although the "new generation" lost, the emotional Santos insisted that they "played a good game". "I'm very happy that Mbappe is a French citizen".
