Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is currently sidelined due to a rare muscle injury, just over two months before the 2026 World Cup. Several other Portuguese internationals have faced fitness issues this season, but no confirmed withdrawals have been reported so far.
Ronaldo sustained a muscle injury in his right thigh at the end of February while playing for Saudi club Al Nassr, coached by Jorge Jesus. He has been absent from competition since then, missing Portugal’s friendlies against Mexico and the United States.
He is expected to return to action in April as Al Nassr, which also features João Félix, competes for the Saudi league title.
The 41-year-old forward has spent over two decades at the top level of football, making prolonged injuries rare. Most of his previous injuries were traumatic rather than muscular, with the last comparable muscle issue occurring nearly ten years ago.
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During the Euro 2016 final, which Portugal won against France with Éder’s extra-time goal, Ronaldo left the match injured in his left knee during the first half. He used the subsequent holiday period to recover but still missed the start of the season at Real Madrid, returning mid-September.
Earlier, his left knee had caused problems in 2014, forcing him to miss games at Real Madrid and limiting his participation in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. In 2008, Ronaldo suffered a right ankle injury while at Manchester United, missing several matches and requiring surgery after the Euro 2008 tournament.
Ronaldo’s injury comes during a season in which several Portuguese internationals regularly called up by coach Roberto Martínez have also faced fitness issues, including Rúben Dias, Nélson Semedo, Francisco Conceição, João Neves, Rafael Leão, and Pedro Gonçalves.
Rúben Dias, Manchester City center-back, has already missed over a month in 2026 due to a thigh injury and is again unavailable. Rafael Leão, AC Milan forward, also returned from a long layoff at the start of the season and is currently injured again.
Nélson Semedo, Fenerbahçe right-back, has dealt with various issues, from muscle injuries to a recent left knee ligament problem, sidelining him for over a month. Similarly, Juventus winger Francisco Conceição has had muscle-related absences, as has Sporting’s Pedro Gonçalves, who missed around six weeks and is still regaining top form.
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João Cancelo, now on loan at FC Barcelona, missed over a month due to a muscle problem earlier in the season with Al Hilal but is back in Martínez’s squad for the upcoming friendlies. PSG midfielder João Neves is also experiencing an injury-plagued season, although he remains selected, unlike Porto’s Diogo Costa and Rodrigo Mora, who were dropped from the squad due to recent injuries.
Despite these setbacks, the good news for the coach is that no player has suffered a World Cup–threatening injury so far. Portugal will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
