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.

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In a recent match held in Guimaraes, Portugal, England’s U19 side faced Serbia and suffered a 2-0 defeat. The game took place as part of a series of international fixtures for youth teams, with both Jesse Derry and Shumaira Mheuka starting and playing the full 90 minutes for England.

Despite controlling 58% of possession and taking 18 shots, England could only manage 4 on target. In contrast, Serbia was more efficient, scoring 2 goals from their 13 shots, with 9 on target. Anderlecht striker Mihajlo Cvetkovic opened the scoring for Serbia, followed by a second goal from Partizan midfielder Bogdan Kostic.

This loss is particularly disappointing for England, who entered the match as firm favorites, having previously defeated Serbia 4-0 in 2022. The Chelsea duo of Derry and Mheuka faced a frustrating result, unable to convert their chances into goals.

Looking ahead, England’s U19 side will next face Poland in Portugal, followed by a match against the host nation, Portugal, at the Amelia Morais stadium in Braga.

In a related development, Luis Machado has joined NorthEast United FC from the Portuguese top division, marking a significant step in his career. Machado, who made his topflight debut with C D Tondela, has over 130 appearances in the Portuguese league.

Expressing his excitement about the move, Machado stated, “I have heard about the league and the club from my peers and am looking forward to the experience.” His new coach, Priya Runchal, highlighted Machado’s versatility, saying, “Luis gives us options going forward as he has the ability to play on both flanks.”

As the U19 side continues its campaign in Portugal, the focus will be on improving their performance and securing positive results in upcoming matches.

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