Cristiano Ronaldo to miss Portugal games vs. USMNT, Mexico
Cristiano Ronaldo you might have been unnoticed of Portugal‘s squad for the March World Cup warmup games in opposition to Mexico and the United States having failed to get well from a proper hamstring damage.
The Portugal captain’s health was a priority after he had sustained the muscular downside whereas taking part in for Saudi Pro League leaders Al Nassr on Feb. 28.
Ronaldo, 41, has undergone therapy in Madrid up to now two weeks however is unavailable to face Mexico on the renovated Azteca Stadium on March 28. He is not going to play in opposition to the United States on March 31 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ronaldo has not performed within the US since 2014, when he was right here as a part of Real Madrid’s preseason tour.
Portugal will start its World Cup marketing campaign in Houston on June 17 in opposition to a winner of this month’s playoff event.
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez reassured followers that Ronaldo is just not susceptible to lacking what might be a document sixth World Cup.
“No, he’s not in danger,” he mentioned when asserting his 27-man squad on Friday. “It’s a minor muscle injury, and we think he can be back in a week or two.
“Everything Cristiano has accomplished bodily this season reveals that he is in nice form.”
Ronaldo made his first public US appearance since that 2014 preseason tour as a guest at the White House last November as President Donald Trump hosted a dinner to honor Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 143 goals, Ronaldo had missed Portugal’s last game of 2025, a 9-1 victory over Armenia in their final World Cup qualifier on Nov. 16, through suspension.
Ronaldo’s in-form Al Nassr teammate Joao Felix is within the squad as is Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandeswho has seven objectives and 16 assists in 27 league games this season.
West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes you might have earned your first call-up and is one in all six Premier League-based gamers in Portugal’s squad. Royal Society winger Goncalo Guedes returns to the squad having not featured for the nationwide group since 2022.
“Guedes is a flexible participant,” Martínez said. “He has scored 9 objectives this season and is in wonderful type.
“He’s a game-changing striker, a player who is of great interest to us. I’ve already said that for the World Cup, the center forward position belongs to Cristiano and Goncalo Ramosand we’re looking for a striker with a different profile.
“And he is in a type that deserves a call-up. We’re very enthusiastic about what he might carry to the nationwide group in these mates.”
Portugal squad: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting CP); Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), João Cancelo (F.C. Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Gonçalo Inacio (Sporting CP), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Antonio Silva (S.L. Benfica) and Tomas Araujo (SL Benfica); Ruben Neves (Al Hilal), Samú Costa (Majorca), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham), Joao Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) and Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto); Ricardo Horta (S.C. Panty), Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting CP), João Félix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincão (Sporting CP), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad) and Goncalo Ramos (PSG).