Cristiano Ronaldo to Miss Portugal Friendlies, World Cup Status Unaffected

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the upcoming international friendlies against Mexico and the United States due to a hamstring injury, but head coach Roberto Martínez has assured fans that his participation in the 2026 World Cup is not in jeopardy.

Injury Details and Recovery Timeline

Ronaldo sustained the injury while playing for Al-Nassr in a Saudi Pro League match on February 28th. Martínez stated the injury is minor and expects Ronaldo to return to the pitch within the next week or two. “No, he’s not at risk,” Martínez said. “He has a minor muscle injury, and we suppose he’ll be back in a week or two. Everything Cristiano has done physically this season shows that he’s in great shape.”

Squad Updates and Notable Absences

In addition to Ronaldo, Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva will likewise miss the friendlies due to injuries. West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes has received his first call-up to the senior national team. Ricardo Horta, Samu Costa, and Gonçalo Guedes have also been recalled to the squad. However, Rodrigo Mora of FC Porto has been ruled out of both matches after suffering a muscle injury in his left thigh during a press conference.

Match Schedule and Broadcast Information

Portugal will face Mexico on March 28th in Mexico City, followed by a match against the United States on March 31st at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The match against the United States will be broadcast live on TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, Universo, and Peacock.

Portugal Squad List

Goalkeepers

• Diogo Costa (FC Porto)
• José Sá (Wolves)
• Rui Silva (Sporting)

Defenders

• Matheus Nunes (Manchester City)
• Diogo Dalot (Manchester United)
• João Cancelo (Barcelona)
• Nuno Mendes (PSG)
• Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting)
• Renato Veiga (Villarreal)
• António Silva (Benfica)
• Tomás Araújo (Benfica)

Midfielders

• Rúben Neves (Al Hilal)
• Vitinha (PSG)
• Mateus Fernandes (West Ham)
• Samú Costa (Mallorca)
• João Neves (PSG)
• Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto)
• Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Forwards

• Ricardo Horta (SC Braga)
• Pedro Gonçalves (Sporting)
• João Félix (Al Nassr)
• Francisco Trincão (Sporting)
• Francisco Conceição (Juventus)
• Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
• Rafael Leão (AC Milan)
• Gonçalo Guedes (Villarreal)
• Gonçalo Ramos (PSG)