Ronaldo's bitter message to celebrating Serbia stars after decisive defeat

Portugal boss Fernando Santos has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo fired back at Serbian players as they celebrated their late 2-1 win - a result that saw Serbia snatch Portugal's World Cup spot.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's late header capped a stunning turnaround to send Serbia to Qatar next winter.

The result means that Portugal, who took the lead in just the second minute of the game through Renato Sanches, now have to go through a gruelling play-off campaign to book their ticket for next year's tournament.

The Portugal squad were pictured distraught at the end of the game - and it's now been revealed by Santos that Ronaldo gave Serbian players a verbal volley for their celebrations.

Ronaldo saw a goal disallowed in the dying moments of the previous clash between the duo. And he was quick to point out that Serbian players would be feeling very different if his late goal had been allowed.

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"It doesn't make sense," Santos told TVI. "When the game was over, the disappointment was brutal. If it was for the Portuguese, imagine for the players and staff. The players were on the ground.

"I went to the field to support and comfort the players, he [Ronaldo] was telling a Serbian player: 'You wouldn't be laughing if the goal I scored there hadn't been cancelled out'. What I told you was to take it easy."

Ronaldo allowed his frustrations to boil over as he seemed to engage in an angry exchange with Santos.

Despite Portugal's frustration, Santos was gracious in defeat and commended Serbia; admitting they deserved their late winning goal.

"It looked like it was going to be, but it wasn't," said Santos. "We scored the goal, we had the initial moments. But then we started to drop deep a lot.

"The players tried. But then we didn't turn the game on. Every time we did, we created problems. But most of the time we couldn't.

"Serbia were better. We tried. Our DNA is to have the ball on our feet and play. Bernardo Silva wanted the ball, but he was the only one. We played with fear and anxiety. It's my responsibility."

Despite the abject result, Santos was adamant that Portugal would still make it to Qatar - despite now facing a gruelling play-off campaign.

"We'll be in Qatar. We know we didn't do what we should, but we'll be there," he added.

"We've always played to win and think about the offensive moment. But it doesn't always turn out as we want. And it's my responsibility."

Ronaldo, who was distraught at the end of the game, could now be set for the ultimate World Cup heartache.

Now aged 36, the Portuguese star has already conceded that next year's showpiece event in Qatar is destined to be his final World Cup.

But he now faces a face to ensure that is the case; with it now looking a very real prospect that the veteran could have already played his final World Cup game without knowing it.