Cristiano Ronaldo Ruled Out Of Portugal Friendlies

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will miss upcoming international friendlies against Mexico and the United States as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Naija News reports that Cristiano Ronaldo flew his private jet out of the Middle East amid the ongoing war in the Gulf States. Days later, Al Nassr manager Jorge Jesus confirmed the Portuguese icon had travelled to Spain for treatment, ruling him out of recent Saudi Pro League victories over Neom and Al Khaleej.

Ronaldo, 41, is still not considered fit enough to return, with both club and country agreeing he should focus on regaining full fitness ahead of the World Cup, now just months away.

The Portuguese forward will also be absent from Portugal’s high-profile clash with Mexico on 28 March, set to mark the reopening of the Estadio Azteca. He will not travel to Mexico City, with his recovery expected to take around two weeks.

His absence has inevitably reduced some of the buzz around the fixture, where much of the spotlight had centred on him. However, Portugal still head into the games with a strong and in-form squad.

Midfielder Vitinha is expected to play a leading role, having established himself as a key figure in the side.

There is also a return for Gonçalo Guedes, who has been recalled after an extended spell away from the national team. The Real Sociedad forward has impressed this season with consistent attacking contributions, earning his place back in the squad.

Head coach Roberto Martínez sees Guedes as a genuine option in attack and has not ruled out his inclusion in Portugal’s World Cup plans if his current form continues.