Portugal FC is gearing up for two international friendlies against Mexico on March 28 and the United States on March 31, 2026. However, the team will be without their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been ruled out due to a right hamstring injury.
Ronaldo sustained the injury on February 28 while playing for Al Nassr. Coach Roberto Martínez announced the squad for the friendlies on March 20, which consists of 27 players. Martínez expressed optimism about Ronaldo’s recovery, stating, “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.”
Portugal currently holds the sixth position in the UEFA rankings, which allows the nation to have three representatives in the Champions League for the 2027/28 season. This ranking is bolstered by FC Porto’s recent victory, contributing to a record total of 18,900 UEFA ranking points this season, surpassing the previous record of 18,800 points.
The absence of Ronaldo is a significant blow for Portugal FC, especially with the World Cup campaign set to begin in June 2026. Ronaldo is the all-time leading international scorer with 143 goals, and his experience will be missed in these crucial matches.
In addition to the friendlies, former Portuguese youth international, Geraldes, has recently joined Seoul E-Land FC. He expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I’m happy to join a great team called Seoul E-Land. The only goal is to help the team get promoted.” Geraldes has played over 100 games in Portugal’s first division from 2020 to 2023.
As Portugal prepares for the upcoming matches, the focus will be on the performance of players like Gonçalo Guedes, Bruno Fernandes, and Rúben Dias to fill the void left by Ronaldo. The team aims to build momentum ahead of the World Cup.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding Ronaldo’s exact recovery timeline, but the coaching staff remains hopeful for his return to full fitness soon.