Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s upcoming friendlies against Mexico and the United States with a hamstring injury, raising fresh concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Portugal’s captain picked up an injury when he played for Al Nassr in late February and has been receiving treatment ever since. Portugal head coach Roberto Martnez confirmed during the squad announcement that the decision was precautionary as the team wants to carefully manage Ronaldo’s fitness ahead of the World Cup.
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“It’s a minor muscle injury and we think he can be back in a week or two,” Martnez said. Everything Cristiano has done physically this season shows that he is in great shape.
Portugal face Mexico on March 28 at the Azteca Stadium, followed by a clash with the United States in Atlanta on March 31. The matches serve as key warm-ups ahead of the World Cup and Martnez opted to rest key players rather than risk further injury.
Ronaldo’s absence is also part of the coaching staff’s wider approach to managing the workload after a long domestic season. Bernardo Silva is another notable name missing from the squad, with the emphasis on getting the older players ready for the bigger challenge ahead.
Despite Ronaldo’s absence, Portugal named a strong squad with the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Joo Flix, while West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes earned his first senior call-up. Gonalo Guedes also returned to the national team after an almost two-year absence.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s most important figure heading into the tournament. The 41-year-old is the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s international football with 143 goals and is expected to lead the team once he is fully fit.
WILL CRISTIANO RONALDO PLAY FIFA WORLD CUP 2026?
Martnez has made it clear that Ronaldo’s place in Portugal’s World Cup plans is not under threat despite the current setback.
“No, he’s not in danger,” Martnez said when asked about Ronaldo’s availability for the tournament.
The striker is expected to recover over the next few weeks, giving him plenty of time to return to action ahead of June’s World Cup. Portugal begin their campaign on June 17 in Houston, with the United States, Mexico and Canada co-hosting the tournament.
Ronaldo is set to chase history as he aims to play in a record sixth World Cup. The veteran is still chasing his first FIFA World Cup title, so 2026 is a potentially defining moment in his career.
While his absence from the friendly may have raised initial concerns, the decision reflects Portugal’s long-term planning rather than any major fitness crisis.
Portugal squad for friendlies: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Matheus Nunes, Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Antonio Silva, Tomas Araujo, Ruben Neves, Samu Costa, Mateus Fernandes, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Jo Hora Felon G, Pedro Ricard, Jo Hora Felon G, Pedro Ricard Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto, Goncalo Guedes, Goncalo Ramos
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
March 21, 2026 0:08 AM IST
