Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the national squad for upcoming international friendlies due to a hamstring injury in his right leg. The 41-year-old forward has not fully recovered in time for matches against Mexico and the United States, scheduled as part of Portugal’s preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo sustained the injury on February 28 while playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Despite undergoing treatment in Madrid over the past two weeks, the veteran striker has yet to regain full fitness.
As a result, he will miss Portugal’s match against Mexico on March 28 at the iconic Estadio Azteca, as well as the March 31 fixture against the United States in Atlanta.
Portugal is set to begin its World Cup campaign on June 17 in Houston against a yet-to-be-determined playoff qualifier. However, head coach Roberto Martínez has reassured fans that Ronaldo’s injury is minor and does not pose any risk to his participation in the tournament.
Speaking during the announcement of the 27-man squad, Martínez said he expects Ronaldo to return within one to two weeks. He also emphasized that the forward’s overall physical condition this season demonstrates he remains in excellent form.
Ronaldo is aiming to feature in a record sixth FIFA World Cup, further extending his legendary international career.
