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MADRID/LISBON, Aug 21: Cristiano Ronaldo has snapped back at Portuguese federation officials who were publicly critical of his absence from the national squad for last week's friendly against Liechtenstein.

The world and European footballer of the year had pulled out of the squad on the grounds of a continued reaction from the flu which had prompted his early return to Europe from Real Madrid's pre-season tour to the United States.

However both Portuguese federation president Gilberto Madail and national coach Carlos Queiroz - who formerly worked with Ronaldo at Manchester United - had expressed surprise and disappointment at his absence.

Ronaldo, who lined up for Madrid in midweek in a club friendly in Dortmund, hit back. He said: “I don’t understand how anyone can criticise my commitment to Portugal. I even played for my country on the day my father had died. That shows how important it is for me to play for my country. They should think again.”

Madrid won 5-0 against Borussia in Dortmund in a game staged in a sold-out 83,000-capacity Westfalenstadion. Kaka, Madrid's £60m signing from Milan, scored his first goal for the club from a penalty and was also generally hailed as man of the match.