Ronaldo sidelined for Portugal friends, eyeing 6th World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo, sidelined with a hamstring damage, was omitted from Portugal’s squad introduced Friday for pre-World Cup pals in opposition to co-hosts Mexico and the United States later this month.
The 41-year-old has not performed for Saudi membership Al-Nassr since late February, however coach Roberto Martinez mentioned Ronaldo’s pursuit of a report sixth World Cup look stays on monitor.
“It’s a minor injury,” Martinez mentioned at a information convention, including that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner might return “within one or two weeks.”
“Everything Cristiano has done physically this season shows he is in excellent form and has no physical problems. At the World Cup, the center-forward position will be for Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Ramos. We are looking for a third striker with a different profile.”
Portugal will face Mexico on Saturday, March 28, in Mexico City, and the United States three days later in Atlanta.
“This is the last chance to experiment because it’s the final training camp before the World Cup squad is named,” Martinez mentioned.
The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, locations Portugal in Group Okay with Colombia and Uzbekistan.
The fourth staff within the group will come from a playoff that would characteristic New Caledonia, Jamaica, or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers/England), Rui Silva (Sporting)
Defenders: Matheus Nunes (Manchester City/England), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/England), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona/Spain), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Renato Veiga (Villarreal/Spain), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Tomas Araujo (Benfica)
Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal/Saudi Arabia), Samu Costa (Mallorca/Spain), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham/England), Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/England), Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto)
Forwards: Ricardo Horta (Braga), Pedro Goncalves (Sporting), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr/Saudi Arabia), Francisco Trincao (Sporting), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus/Italy), Rafael Leao (AC Milan/Italy), Pedro Neto (Chelsea/England), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad/Spain), Goncalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain/France)
