Cristiano Ronaldo reminded everyone how important he is to Portugal by leading them to a 4-0 win over Switzerland in the Nations League.

The veteran forward and captain was relegated to the bench for his country's first match against Spain on Thursday, settling for a half-hour cameo in a 1-1 draw.

However, on his return to the starting lineup, the Manchester United striker sent a resounding message to coach Fernando Santos, scoring twice after setting up the goal for the hosts at Estadio Jose Alvalade.

After losing to the Czech Republic last time out, Murat Yakin's Swiss visitors have suffered their second Nations League setback in as many games. They now have a difficult remaining schedule.

It could have been so different though, after a lively start in Lisbon looked to have thrown up a wretched start for the hosts when Haris Seferovic prodded in from close range amid a crowded box.

Portugal were let off the hook, however, when VAR intervened to deem Fabian Schar had committed a handball infringement in the build-up to Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner.

After that early scare, Santos’ side sought to impose themselves and were rewarded on the quarter-hour mark when William Carvalho tapped home the rebound after Ronaldo’s free-kick was pushed out.

From there, Ronaldo unfurled his instinct for hitting goals in rapid succession, first doubling his side’s lead with a smooth strike from Diogo Jota’s cut-back in the 35th minute, before adding a second for himself four minutes later with a tap-in.

The captain almost had a hat-trick before the break, steering an effort wide, and even as the goals dried up after the interval, he remained a potent marshal for Portugal’s steady hold on the encounter.

With a three-goal cushion, a bridge too far for Switzerland, the visitors proved particularly toothless in response. When Joao Cancelo struck in the 68th minute, what little resistance the Swiss had displayed perished as the hosts steered themselves to a resounding victory.