Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the Portugal squad for upcoming international friendlies due to injury, raising short-term concerns ahead of the World Cup.
The 41-year-old forward, who currently plays for Al-Nassr, has not featured since late February after suffering a hamstring issue.
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Portugal manager Roberto Martinez confirmed the decision to rest Ronaldo for matches against Mexico national football team and United States national football team later this month.
Martinez confident Ronaldo will be fit for World Cup
Despite his absence, Martinez played down concerns, describing the injury as minor and insisting Ronaldo’s place at the World Cup is not under threat.
The Portugal boss revealed the striker is expected to return within one or two weeks, highlighting his strong physical condition throughout the season.
Martinez also confirmed that Ronaldo remains central to his plans, alongside Goncalo Ramos, as Portugal prepare for the tournament.
The upcoming friendlies will serve as the final opportunity to assess squad options before naming the official World Cup squad, reports France 24.
Portugal are set to face Mexico and the United States in preparation for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
With the competition approaching, Martinez will be focused on fine-tuning his squad while ensuring key players like Ronaldo are fully fit for the global stage.
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