Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal passes the ball during a training session in Doha, Qatar on November 21, 2022. Photo: VCG

Cristiano Ronaldo believes his explosive TV interview, in which the Manchester United forward said he had been betrayed by the club and was being forced out, had not been a distraction in the Portugal changing room in the World Cup.

Last week superstar Ronaldo lashed out at Premier League club United and the team's coach Erik ten Hag in a TV interview after being relegated to a peripheral role this season.

Ronaldo, who is set to start his fifth and likely final World Cup, was suspended for the Premier League club's 1-1 draw at Chelsea after refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham in October.

The 37-year-old claimed during the interview that he felt "provoked" into that reaction by Ten Hag and on Monday was unrepentant about giving the interview. 

The Portugal captain said that he is not worried about how his actions will impact the squad, adding that he feels great about their chances of winning the World Cup.

"In my life, the best timing is always my timing," Ronaldo told a news conference on Monday.

"I don't have to think about what other people think. The players know me really well for many years and know the type of person I am.

"It's an ambitious group that is hungry and focused. So I'm sure it [the interview] won't shake the changing room's concentration and focus."

Referring to himself in the third person, Ronaldo said that "everything related to him will always spark criticism and controversy."

Ronaldo said frosty interaction with his teammate for club and country Bruno Fernandes, along with images of him grabbing Manchester City's Joao Cancelo by the head, had been being overblown by the media.

"In these final stages of competitions there's always those type of ­moments," said Ronaldo.

"We were just playing around, I have a great relationship with him. I was asking him, because his plane was late, I asked him if he came by boat.

"The same thing happened with Cancelo. He was a bit sad during ­training and I grabbed him by the neck and told him 'Come on, you've got this,' that's what I said. And then it became another controversy at your end.

"The environment in the changing room is excellent. No problems. The group is shielded. And I take this opportunity to say: stop asking about me."

After missing Thursday's friendly against Nigeria in Lisbon due to a stomach problem, Ronaldo has been training as usual with teammates since arriving in Qatar on Friday and he said he feels in shape.

"I'm feeling great, I'm recovered and I'm training well and ready to start the World Cup in the best way possible," Ronaldo said.

"I feel that this Portugal squad has amazing potential. I think we can win for sure, but we need to focus on the next game. So, it's focusing in Ghana, get a win and go from there.

"We will see in the end who the best team is, but I believe Portugal is the best team in this World Cup. But we need to show it on the pitch."

Portugal is in Group H with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.