Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo has urged the team’s supporters to keep supporting them in good and bad times as the Selecao das Quinas meet Morocco in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

“We will do everything to reciprocate with victories! Come on, Portugal!” he said in a Facebook post on Saturday. The Ronaldo-led side reached the quarter-final stage after thrashing Switzerland 6-1 at the Lusail Stadium.

However, Ronaldo—one of the great players of all time—was benched for the most part of the important game. Goncalo Ramos, who was called in to fill his captain’s shoes, scored a hat-trick in the match and got the spotlight in the mega event.

The former Red Devils player praised his team for the “historic result” amid media reports that he was apparently upset with the team and threatened to leave it in the midst of the tournament. But, he has shunned all such claims and maintained that the group was “too united to be broken by external forces”.

Morocco have so far not lost a match in the Qatar World Cup and aims to create history by becoming the first African nation to win the title. The team, which has PSG defender Achraf Hakimi on their side, beat favourites Spain on penalties in the Round of 16 to reach the next stage.

They have given a tough time to the opponents in the tournament. They drew with Croatia and beat Belgium and Canada in the group-stage matches.

Fans would be eagerly waiting to see Ronaldo playing at the Al Thumama Stadium. The stadium was chanting Ronaldo when he replaced Ramos in the 73rd minute of the game against Switzerland.

“I’m not sure if Cristiano Ronaldo plays but I hope he doesn’t. He’s one of the greatest ever and I’d be delighted if he didn’t play against us,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui told reporters on Friday.

“There’s a World Cup that Portugal has already won: that of the fans! Amazing the support and affection we have felt from so many Portuguese people (and not only! ) here in Qatar so far from our homeland,” Ronaldo said in the Facebook post.