Cristiano Ronaldo excluded from Portugal’s roster for pre-World Cup exhibition matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been excluded from Portugal’s roster for the upcoming World Cup warm-up matches in Mexico and the United States due to an unresolved right hamstring injury.
The fitness of the Portugal captain was in doubt after he incurred the muscular injury while competing for Saudi Pro League leaders Al Nassr on February 28.
Ronaldo, 41, has received treatment in Madrid over the last two weeks but will not be available to face Mexico at the renovated Azteca stadium on March 28. He will also miss the match against the United States on March 31 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Portugal’s coach Roberto Martínez assured supporters that Ronaldo is not at risk of missing what would be his record sixth World Cup.
“No, he’s not in danger,” he stated while revealing his 27-man squad on Friday. “It’s a minor muscle injury, and we believe he can return in a week or two.
“Everything Cristiano has done physically this season indicates that he’s in excellent shape.”
The all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 143 goals, Ronaldo had previously missed Portugal’s last match of 2025, a 9-1 triumph over Armenia in their final World Cup qualifier on November 16, due to suspension.
Ronaldo’s in-form Al Nassr teammate João Félix is included in the squad, along with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, who has recorded seven goals and 16 assists in 27 league appearances this season.
West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes has received his first call-up and is among six players from the Premier League in Portugal’s squad. Real Sociedad winger Gonçalo Guedes returns to the team after not participating since 2022.
“Guedes is a versatile player,” Martínez remarked. “He’s netted nine goals this season and is in outstanding form.
“He’s a game-changing forward, a player who is of significant interest to us. I’ve already mentioned that for the World Cup, the center-forward position is designated for Cristiano and Gonçalo Ramos, and we are seeking a striker with a different profile.
“And he’s in a form that warrants a call-up. We’re very enthusiastic about what he could contribute to the national team in these friendlies.”
Portugal squad: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting CP); Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), João Cancelo (FC Barcelona), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Gonçalo Inacio (Sporting CP), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), António Silva (SL Benfica) and Tomás Araújo (SL Benfica); Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Samú Costa (Mallorca), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham), João Neves (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) and Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto); Ricardo Horta (SC Braga), Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting CP), João Félix (Al Nassr), Francisco Trincão (Sporting CP), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad) and Gonçalo Ramos (PSG).
