Portugal FC is facing a significant challenge as Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the squad for the upcoming friendlies due to a right hamstring injury. The injury occurred on February 28 while he was playing for Al Nassr, and Coach Roberto Martínez announced the squad on March 20, 2026.
Ronaldo’s injury is expected to sideline him for one to two weeks, which means he will miss Portugal’s matches against Mexico on March 28 and the United States on March 31. The squad for these friendlies consists of 27 players, including notable names such as Bruno Fernandes, Rúben Dias, and João Félix.
In a statement regarding Ronaldo’s condition, Martínez expressed optimism, saying, “It’s a minor muscle injury. We think he can be back in a week or two. Everything Cristiano has done physically this season shows he’s in great shape.” This news comes as Portugal has secured sixth place in the UEFA ranking, which allows them three representatives in the Champions League for the 2027/28 season.
Portugal’s impressive performance this season has contributed to a record of 18,900 UEFA ranking points, surpassing their previous record of 18,800 points. This achievement has been bolstered by FC Porto’s recent victory, which played a crucial role in accumulating these points.
In addition to the national team developments, former Portuguese age representative Geraldes has joined Seoul E-Land FC. He expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m happy to join a great team called Seoul E-Land. The only goal is to help the team get promoted.” Geraldes has previously played over 100 games in Portugal’s first division from 2020 to 2023.
As Portugal prepares for the World Cup campaign beginning in June 2026, the absence of their all-time leading international scorer, who has netted 143 goals for the national team, raises concerns about their offensive strategy. The team will need to adapt quickly to ensure they perform well in the upcoming friendlies without their star player.
With Ronaldo’s expected recovery timeline, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Portugal FC navigates these challenges and what impact this injury may have on their World Cup preparations.